Hebrews 4: The Promised ‘Rest’
- v.1-13 A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God
- v.14-16 So let’s come to God through Jesus the Great High Priest
[Preliminary Note: Having exhorted his Jewish readers not to fall away, the writer now adds a further exhortation NOT to hold back from entering into the whole of the ‘faith package’ that includes entering into ‘rest’, the place of being able to enter into the completed work of God.]
v.1-13 A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God
v.1-3 Beware failing to enter our ‘rest’
v.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.
v.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.
v.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.’” [Psa 95:11] And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.
[Note: The promise still stands of entering our eternal resting place, but we could fail to receive it. The gospel has come to us but, remember, they failed to inherit their good news; what a warning! Believers enter that ‘rest’ but unbelievers won’t.]
v.4-7 God ‘rested’ but doesn’t want us to fail to come to that same place
v.4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
v.5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
v.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,
v.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.”
[Note: God’s example – He rested on the 7th day [Gen. 2:2], yet that warning is still there. So, not everyone enters His rest; hearing the gospel is not enough, obedience is essential. It still remains available but so too does the warning. [Psa 95:7,8]. David indicated there was a rest beyond just physically entering the Land
v.8-13 Joshua taking the Land was just the start, God’s word shows there is more.
v.8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
v.9,10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
v.11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
v.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.
v.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.
[Note: Joshua taking the Land was only for them, but there was ‘another day’ of rest spoken of by David. It’s a rest (in God’s presence where He ‘rests’) still offered to all, to enter into the rest from ‘work’ that God offers so let’s do all we can to enter it, let’s let God’s word have its effect. Realize every one and every thing is visible to God – He knows the truth!]
v.14-16 So let’s come to God through Jesus the Great High Priest
v.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.
v.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
v.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.
[Note: Remember Jesus our high priest is in heaven on our behalf, and he understands us, and was our example of one tempted but not falling, so have confidence.]
[Additional Note: The Flow of Writing: As we indicated previously, the writer equates entering the Promised Land with entering a place of rest. When God ‘rested’ on the seventh day, it was because He had completed the work of creation and there was nothing more to do. Similarly, IF (the original, older generation of) Israel had entered the Land, there was just a life of taking fuller occupation of it. For us, entering into our salvation means there is nothing more we can do; we can’t make ourselves more saved, more holy, more children of God. The work has been completed by Christ. We now just rest in who we are. This has been achieved by Jesus who acted as a high priest on our behalf – the writer will work this out in more detail in the chapters to come. For the moment, the writer simply points out that Jesus coming in human form meant he experienced what we experience but triumphed in it.]
For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: