Hebrews 11:40

Provided. Greek problepo, “to foresee.” The English word “provide” also literally means “to foresee,” being from the Latin pro, “before,” and videre, “to see.” God foresaw the end from the beginning. He knew that in future ages there would be other multitudes of faithful men, women, youth, and children. In His infinite wisdom He ordained that the faithful of all ages should enter upon the eternal inheritance together (see on 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8). As to the great gift of eternal life, none would have advantage, or priority, over another.

Some better thing. Not something better than He proposed to award the faithful of ages past, but rather that, from our point of view, it has been better that God has granted us an opportunity to join their ranks.

Without us. In the providence of God we have been accorded time in which to develop character and to prepare for admission to the eternal inheritance of the saints.

The opportunity is ours as it was theirs. In the opening verses of chapter 12 the writer draws his conclusion: “Let us lay aside every weight, ... let us run with patience ...”

Made perfect. Greek teleiod, here in the passive, “to be completed,” “to be brought to perfection.” For comment on the related adjective teleios see on Matthew 5:48. Here, to be “made perfect” is to enter upon the eternal inheritance promised to Abraham and the fathers (see on Hebrews 10:35-38).