Hebrews 11:25 kjv
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Hebrews 11:25 nkjv
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Hebrews 11:25 niv
He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Hebrews 11:25 esv
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Hebrews 11:25 nlt
He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Hebrews 11 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1-3 | "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country... and I will make of you a great nation...'" | Calling to separate from worldly comfort for God's promise. |
| Ex 2:10-11 | "And she called his name Moses... one day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens." | Moses's initial awareness of his true people. |
| Ex 19:5-6 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession... a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." | Israel as God's chosen people, set apart. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession..." | God's specific election of Israel. |
| Acts 7:22-29 | "And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians... He supposed his brothers would understand... But they did not understand." | Moses's background and initial attempt to help his people. |
| Ps 73:2-3, 17 | "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled... for I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." | Struggle with envy of wicked prosperity, finding truth in God. |
| Prov 10:23 | "Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding." | Contrast of folly in sin vs. wisdom's true pleasure. |
| Mt 5:10-12 | "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven." | Blessing in suffering for righteousness. |
| Mt 10:37-39 | "Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me... And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." | Priority of Christ over all earthly ties. |
| Lk 8:14 | "And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life..." | The danger of worldly pleasures hindering faith. |
| Lk 16:25 | "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." | Transient worldly enjoyment versus eternal consequence. |
| Rom 6:21-23 | "What fruit did you have then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin..." | The eventual bitter end of sin's temporary pleasure. |
| Rom 8:17 | "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." | Co-suffering with Christ for future glory. |
| Php 1:29 | "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." | The privilege of suffering for Christ. |
| Col 3:1-2 | "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." | Reorienting values to heavenly things, not earthly. |
| 2 Cor 4:17-18 | "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." | Transient suffering contrasted with eternal glory. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..." | The perils of worldly desire leading to sin. |
| Jas 1:14-15 | "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." | The destructive progression of sinful desire. |
| Jas 4:4 | "You adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." | Radical contrast between loving God and loving the world. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | New Testament affirmation of believers as God's people. |
| 1 Jn 2:15-17 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." | Warning against worldliness and its transient nature. |
| Heb 11:13-16 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar... desiring a better country, that is, a heavenly one." | Faith living for future heavenly reality, not earthly. |
| Heb 11:26 | "He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." | The reason for Moses's choice: looking to eternal reward. |
Hebrews 11 verses
Hebrews 11 25 Meaning
Hebrews 11:25 reveals a profound act of faith by Moses. Driven by his conviction in God's promises and purposes, he deliberately chose to abandon the temporary yet powerful worldly benefits and enjoyments associated with his life in Pharaoh's household. Instead, he preferred to align himself with the enslaved and afflicted people of God, knowing that such identification would lead to shared suffering and hardship. This choice highlights a clear spiritual discernment that prioritized enduring allegiance to God and His covenant community over the transient gratification offered by a sinful, ungodly lifestyle.
Hebrews 11 25 Context
Hebrews chapter 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," details how faith operates through real-life examples from Old Testament history. The author begins by defining faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (v.1), and then illustrates this definition through numerous biblical figures. Moses is presented as a paramount example of faith, with his story covered in verses 23-29.
Specifically, verse 25 is part of a series of faith-driven actions by Moses. Verse 24 states that by faith he "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter," highlighting his rejection of worldly identity. Verse 25 then expands on what he chose instead, emphasizing the profound moral and spiritual implications of that refusal. It's a deliberate act of severance from one way of life to embrace another. The following verse, 11:26, reveals the motivation for this radical choice: he esteemed "the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." Thus, verse 25 is not an isolated statement but a crucial part of a faith narrative where Moses made a stark choice based on eternal perspectives over immediate, transient gratifications. The historical context underscores the magnitude of Moses's decision, as he was abandoning a life of immense privilege, power, and luxury in the greatest empire of his day to align himself with an enslaved and suffering people. This highlights his prophetic role, seeing beyond present circumstances to God's ultimate plan and kingdom.
Hebrews 11 25 Word analysis
- choosing: From the Greek verb haireisthai (αἱρεῖσθαι), meaning "to choose, to prefer." This is an active and deliberate decision, not a passive circumstance or resignation. Moses intentionally weighed two alternatives and consciously selected one, driven by his internal faith. This underscores the moral agency involved in discipleship.
- rather to suffer affliction: Greek syngkakoucheisthai (συγκακουχεῖσθαι), meaning "to suffer evil along with, to share hardship, to be ill-treated with." The prefix "syn-" (συν-) emphasizes co-suffering or solidarity. Moses wasn't choosing isolated hardship, but to fully identify and share in the actual mistreatment and oppression that his Hebrew kin were enduring at the hands of the Egyptians. This is a profound act of empathy and covenant loyalty.
- with the people of God: Greek tō laō tou Theou (τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ). This phrase is central to Moses's decision. He wasn't simply choosing to suffer with any oppressed group, but specifically with those who bore God's covenant name and were promised His future. This identifies his suffering as tied to a divine purpose and eternal belonging, in contrast to the transient earthly kingdom he rejected.
- than to enjoy: From the Greek verb echein (ἔχειν) combined with apolausin (ἀπόλαυσιν), meaning "to have enjoyment, full delight, gratification." This describes the active experience of pleasure or benefit. The contrast is sharp: the suffering of solidarity versus the gratification of privilege.
- the fleeting pleasures: From the Greek proskairon apolausin (πρόσκαιρον ἀπόλαυσιν). Proskairon means "for a season, temporary, transient, fleeting, passing." It emphasizes the limited duration of these pleasures, highlighting their ultimate lack of enduring value or fulfillment. The allure of sin offers immediate, intense gratification, but it is intrinsically temporary and leaves an emptiness.
- of sin: Greek hamartias (ἁμαρτίας). This specifies the source and nature of the pleasures being rejected. These are not merely neutral worldly advantages, but "pleasures of sin." This suggests that enjoying the benefits of the Egyptian court would inherently involve complicity in idolatry, oppression, and a lifestyle contrary to God's will. It marks a distinction between pleasures that lead to righteousness and those tied to spiritual compromise.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God": This phrase encapsulates an ultimate re-orientation of loyalty. It signifies an embrace of identity and destiny tied to God's covenant people, even when that involves great cost. It is an act of self-sacrifice rooted in faith, prioritizing spiritual solidarity and divine promises over personal comfort or worldly gain. This mirrors the choice faced by all believers, to identify with Christ's body, the Church, even when it involves opposition or difficulty.
- "than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin": This contrasting phrase underscores the deep spiritual insight of Moses. He saw through the superficial appeal and immediate gratification that worldly power and sin offer. He understood that these "pleasures" were temporary, hollow, and ultimately destructive in comparison to the eternal recompense of following God. This wisdom differentiates faith's perspective from the world's immediate gratification.
Hebrews 11 25 Bonus section
- Prophetic Foretelling: Moses's choice of the "reproach of Christ" (Heb 11:26) is remarkable. Moses himself did not live after Christ, yet by faith, he saw and valued the reproach that comes with identification with God's ultimate salvation plan. His act of preferring suffering with Israel thus becomes a profound type and shadow of the believer's call to embrace the reproach and suffering that accompanies following Jesus Christ.
- Divine Empowerment for Choice: The ability for Moses to make such a profound and counter-cultural choice did not stem from innate human strength alone, but from an empowering faith given by God. His faith granted him a supernatural foresight to see the true nature of the temporary pleasures versus the eternal rewards, enabling his radical reorientation of allegiance.
- The World's Allure vs. God's Allure: This verse presents a stark conflict between two alluring forces: the "fleeting pleasures of sin" (offered by the world system) and the "people of God" (offering solidarity and future hope). Faith empowers one to reject the former's emptiness for the latter's eternal substance, showcasing how our perspective on reality dictates our most fundamental choices.
Hebrews 11 25 Commentary
Hebrews 11:25 provides a powerful theological statement about the nature of genuine faith. It illustrates that true faith leads to radical re-evaluation of values, causing an individual to willingly choose difficulty and solidarity with God's purposes over convenience and self-gratification derived from sin. Moses’s choice was not merely an ascetic denial of pleasure, but a discerning judgment of what held true value: the transient pleasures of a sinful existence, however alluring, were far inferior to identifying with the eternal purposes and people of God, even amidst suffering. This choice implicitly recognized that "sin" encapsulates not just immoral acts, but also a system of living separate from God, exemplified by Egypt’s pagan opulence. Moses's act prefigures Christ's own identification with humanity's suffering and sets a standard for all believers: prioritizing loyalty to God and His kingdom over personal comfort or the passing delights of this world. This faith-driven decision is crucial for discerning spiritual wealth from worldly emptiness, compelling believers to count the cost and willingly participate in the burdens and battles of God's chosen, recognizing their true heritage. Practically, it encourages Christians to stand with persecuted believers, to prioritize righteous living over compromise for material gain, and to find true joy in God's path, however challenging.