And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
15. And truly if they had been mindful, etc. He anticipates an objection that might have been made, — that they were strangers because they had left their own country. The apostle meets this objection, and says, that though they called themselves strangers, they yet did not think of Mesopotamia; for if they had a desire to return, they might have done so: but they...
Abel is our first pattern of faith at work: he offered a sacrifice acceptable to God while his brother's was rejected. By faith he was commended as righteous, and though he died long ago, his faith still speaks.
AI summary
Commenting on Hebrews 11:4-31
But now they desire a better country,.... Which is not to be understood of the then present time, in which the apostle wrote; for the patriarchs, of whom he speaks, were not then on earth, nor in any third place between heaven and earth; they were then in heaven; and though there are indeed in heaven desires after perfect happiness, in soul and body; yet...