Hebrews 4 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Hebrews 4:1-6

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

‘So I declared on oath in my anger,
    “They shall never enter my rest.”’

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘On the seventh day God rested from all his works.’ 5 And again in the passage above he says, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ 6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,

A. Find Out:

1. What promise still stands and what do we need to do about it? v.1
2. Why was the message to “them” of no value? v.2
3. What is available to us today? v.3a
4. What is the rest being referred to? v.3b,4
5. Yet what had stopped some entering it? v.5,6

B. Think:

1. What was “the rest” that is being spoken of here?
2. What stops anyone entering it?

C. Comment:

     The writer continues to drive home the point about needing to believe and be obedient and continues to do it by reference to the experience of the Israelites. Several times he has made reference to God saying “They shall never enter my rest” and now he gives clues as to what he means by that.

     When the Lord finished Creation he rested, i.e. his rest was an indication of His finished work. When He spoke of the promised land He spoke of it as Israel’s rest, i.e. the final place of His choosing for them, having completed the work of redeeming them from Egypt. When it refers to our rest, it refers to us entering into the finished work of Christ, achieved on the Cross, implemented now by the Spirit and one day sealed for eternity in heaven.

     The key point the writer continues to make is that in the same way that the Israelites coming out of Egypt failed to enter their rest because of disobedience, so it is possible for us to fail to enter into the fullness of Christ’s work for us for the same reason. This possibility comes up a number of times in Hebrews and it is one of which we should take serious note. Our “rest” is the place that we don’t have to strive to achieve, it’s all been done for us, so all we have to do it believe and receive.

D. Application:

1. God has made total provision for us but it does require that we go in and receive it.
2. Unbelief and disobedience prevent that happening.

Passage: Hebrews 4:7-11

7 God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today’. This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

‘Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.’

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

A. Find Out:

1. When did God also speak about this rest? v.7
2. Who was supposed to have given them rest? v.8
3. What does there remain? v.9
4. What happens when we enter God’s rest? v.10
5. What should we do therefore? v.11a
6. Why? v.11b

B. Think:

1. Read Deuteronomy 3:20 & 12:10 and Psa 95:7-11
2. What is the main point that continues to be made?

C. Comment:

    These are difficult verses, both yesterday and today, for the writer goes backwards and forwards in his argument which is typical of a Jewish scholar’s arguing. Let’s try and put it simply.

     David wrote in Psalm 95 those same words about not hardening your hearts, inferring that on THAT day, in THAT time there was still a rest to be entered. But, says the writer, didn’t Joshua take the people into the rest, the rest that was the Promised Land? It therefore means that there is a rest beyond the Promised Land, which is more like the Sabbath rest whereby there is nothing further we can do but simply sit back and look at what has been achieved and enjoy it, just like God did when he completed creating the world, after the sixth day. Our rest NOW is to be like His rest on the 7th day!

     The argument seems to be two edged: first learn from the Israelites and realise that disobedience can stop you entering into God’s provision for you, and second, realise that there is something more to be received from God than simply settling into a certain geographical location, as the Jews (Hebrews – see title of book) expected. God’s inheritance for us goes much further than certain promises limited to material well-being. The inheritance means receiving and living in a state of rest where we can do no more ourselves to receive God’s love.

D. Application:

1. Disobedience and unbelief can stop us inheriting God’s blessing.
2. There is much more than material blessing!

Passage: Hebrews 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

A. Find Out:

1. How is the word of God described? v.12a
2. What 2 things does it do? v.12b
3. What are we told about God? v.13a
4. What happens to everything? v.13b
5. Why? v.13c

B. Think:

1. How many times in the previous chapters has the writer quoted Scripture to justify what he is saying?
2. How does verse 12 justify all this use of Scripture?
3. What does verse 13 warn us and follow on from verse 12?

C. Comment:

     The writer has been using Scripture (the Old Testament) extensively to warn against unbelief and to exhort them to take what God has given. Now it is as if he justifies the use of such Scriptures.

     Note first the NATURE of God’s word: living, active, sharp. When God speaks it is not dead language. His words are creative, powerful, live bringing, and causing things to happen. Why? Well consider next the EFFECT of God’s word: it penetrates and judges. It goes deep, deep in, to where humanly nothing else can go and it weighs up, assesses and makes a judgement in respect of all we are thinking and all we are viewing. Whereas another person might rebuke us and we shrug it off, when God’s word comes to us and is applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, it so often seems to devastate and convict us, in a way that nothing else can do. So, this is God’s word, let it have that effect in you.

     Then the writer warns us, that even as His word penetrates right into us, so God Himself sees right into us and knows the genuine heart response that we have when He speaks. The word may penetrate but we may rebel against it and be disobedient; that is what the writer is warning us against, and God sees that! We don’t “get away with it”.

D. Application:

1. God’s word has effect. We may accept it or rebel against it.
2. God sees our reaction. We can hide nothing from Him.

Passage: Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus’ role & activity described? v.14a
2. What are we told to do as a result of this? v.14b
3. What don’t we have? v.15a
4. But what do we have? v.15b
5. What are we encouraged to do? v.16a
6. For what reason? v.16b

B. Think:

1. What instructions are we given in this passage?
2. What grounds of reassurance are we given in it?
3. How does this flow on from the previous two chapters?

C. Comment:

     Sometimes when we are doing verse by verse study we can lose the overall context so let’s remind ourselves of that. In chapters 1 & 2 the writer had been extolling Jesus and in the beginning of chapter 3 had referred to him as an apostle and high priest. But then he had warned us to avoid unbelief and exhorted us to enter into the inheritance that was ours because of Jesus. At the end of this exhortation he tells us to hold firmly to our faith (4:14). He then gives us reasons why we can. To do this he picks up again the description of Jesus as our high priest. The high priest in the Old Testament times had the role of coming before God on behalf of the people. He was their intermediary. So Jesus is the same for us. First of all, we’re told, he’s gone into heaven, so he’s in the right place to speak on our behalf. Second, we’re reminded he is the Son of God, so he has perfect access to the Father on our behalf. Third, he’s experienced all that we’ve experienced, so he knows what we feel, he knows what we go through, and therefore he can fully sympathize with us.

     The writer closes with an encouragement for us to pray, to come before God in confidence that Jesus is there and he’s for us! If that is so we may be sure of receiving what we need from him.

D. Application:

1. Jesus intercedes for us (also 1 Jn 2:1)
2. Jesus understands us fully and is for us.