Study in the Book of Hebrews: Hebrews 4:1-13
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We are going to look at a very interesting, puzzling, and much debated passage of Scripture. We are going to attempt to answer the question, “What did the writer mean when talking about entering into God’s rest?” The passage starts with a transition from those who failed to enter into God’s rest to a promise of rest for the people of God today. The writer indicates that there is more to the concept of entering into God’s rest than the physical entrance into the Promised Land. We are to “make every effort” to enter into God’s rest. Finally, we will look at the power of God’s word.
1. The Promise of Rest remains today. ()
1. The Promise of Rest remains today. ()
A. The seriousness of the situation.
A. The seriousness of the situation.
1 Therefore, since the promise to enter his rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short.
i. The promise of rest still remains.
i. The promise of rest still remains.
The people of God were promised rest from their desert journey when they entered the Promised Land, but because of their disobedience they never experienced the rest God promised to them. They died in the wilderness. Their children entered the Promised Land, but were still rebellious and disobedient and did not experience God’s rest. The implication is that obedience to God’s Word brings rest.
ii. “let us beware”
ii. “let us beware”
The original language says “let us fear”. The author is giving his readers a dire warning.
B. Hearing God’s Word is not enough to experience rest.
B. Hearing God’s Word is not enough to experience rest.
2 For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
i. The good news was that “rest” is available.
i. The good news was that “rest” is available.
The good news was the rest that would be found when entering the Promised Land. The good news for us is that rest is found through Jesus Christ. They were to enter into the Promised Land to receive rest. We are to enter into a relationship with Jesus to receive rest.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
ii. Hearing God’s Word must be combined with faith.
ii. Hearing God’s Word must be combined with faith.
Faithless hearing is ineffective to bring about the promised rest. Faith must be active to enter into true spiritual rest.
2. What is the “Rest”? ()
2. What is the “Rest”? ()
Entering into the “rest” is a progression, but what is the “rest”? The controversy is centered around the understanding of the rest. Is the “rest” a present spiritual state or a future destination, like heaven? This is the question that is widely debated. Here is a question to this about. How could you fall short of the rest now if the rest is entirely in the future?
3 For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said, So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest,” even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.
5 Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest.
A. Believers enter the rest.
A. Believers enter the rest.
B. The disobedient and unbelieving will not enter God’s rest.
B. The disobedient and unbelieving will not enter God’s rest.
C. There is a connection between the Sabbath and the rest.
C. There is a connection between the Sabbath and the rest.
D. The quotations are from and .
D. The quotations are from and .
i. Both passages use the Hebrew word “katapausin”.
i. Both passages use the Hebrew word “katapausin”.
ii. This is a rabbinical technical argument called “verbal analogy”.
ii. This is a rabbinical technical argument called “verbal analogy”.
The writer associates two passages of Scripture because they utilize the same word.
E. The rest is not something from the past and involved the completion of work.
E. The rest is not something from the past and involved the completion of work.
F. Conclusion: “The rest is something a believer enters (and thus experiences) now, but this rest in its fullness remains a promised destination for the future.”
F. Conclusion: “The rest is something a believer enters (and thus experiences) now, but this rest in its fullness remains a promised destination for the future.”
(NIV Application, p. 152) So, really, like many biblical understandings it is not an “either/or”. It is a “both/and”. We can enter into the rest of God now because we are trusting in the promises of God by faith. We will enter into the full rest of God when our faith becomes sight.
3. The promise of rest remains ()
3. The promise of rest remains ()
A. Some people will enter into God’s rest.
A. Some people will enter into God’s rest.
6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,
Some people did not enter because of their disobedience.
B. Again, the author quotes from .
B. Again, the author quotes from .
7 he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
God appointed “today” as the day to enter into his rest. The writer lays out his reasoning with the understanding that people who lived after the failings of the people of Israel in the desert wrote and spoke of entering into God’s rest.
7 he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: 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.
Hebrews 4:8-
i. David issued a promise for God’s rest in .
i. David issued a promise for God’s rest in .
ii. The rest could be experienced if the pattern of disobedience was not repeated.
ii. The rest could be experienced if the pattern of disobedience was not repeated.
iii. God gave the promise of rest through David because the entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua did not fulfill the original promise.
iii. God gave the promise of rest through David because the entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua did not fulfill the original promise.
C. A Sabbath rest is still available for God’s people.
C. A Sabbath rest is still available for God’s people.
9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.
Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
These are people who hear God’s voice today and obey God by faith. This is the first time and earliest time in Greek literature that we find the word “Sabbath”. It is possible that the writer made up the word based on the Old Testament understanding and observance of the Sabbath.
29 “This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the alien who resides among you.
30 Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
31 It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must practice self-denial; it is a permanent statute.
Lev
This is quite profound. It is a permanent ordinance. The people of God are to observe the Sabbath. They are not to do any work and God will cleanse them from their sins. This ties together the observance of the Sabbath with the Day of Atonement. The day of rest is when atonement is made. Jesus made the atonement for us and our day of rest begins when we cease our work and trust in Jesus’ work. This means we actively depend on God for salvation, not any human effort. We work because of our salvation, not for our salvation. Does this make sense?
Why are the Seventh-Day Adventists wrong about their observance of the Sabbath?
Why are the Seventh-Day Adventists wrong about their observance of the Sabbath?
They celebrate the Sabbath on a Saturday. We worship on Sunday. We should stop our work from sun down Saturday - Sunday. Why? Jesus is our atonement. He rose from the dead on Sunday morning. He made atonement for us with his own blood. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week giving us a new pattern. No longer do we wait to the seventh day to enter into God’s rest. We enter into God’s rest on the first day because of Jesus’ work. “On this day, we are reminded of and participate in the glorious reality that we have already entered God’s rest (; ) and that we await the experience of the fullness of this rest in eternity in the new heavens and new earth (). We now assemble corporately for worship and enjoy a foretaste of our eternal rest, then go out into the kingdom of this world to work for six days.” (https://www.ligonier.org/blog/why-christians-worship-sunday/)
We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and live in the reality of God’s rest throughout our week.
D. Rest is found when a person trusts in Jesus’ work and stops trusting in his own work.
D. Rest is found when a person trusts in Jesus’ work and stops trusting in his own work.
10 For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.
God rested from his work as a pattern for us. We do not rely and cannot rely in our own works to save us. We can only rely in Jesus’ work on the cross to give us the rest. We don’t work to enter into the rest of God. We surrender. Our works will never bring rest. Jesus’ work bring us rest.
E. We are to give focused attention to entering into God’s rest.
E. We are to give focused attention to entering into God’s rest.
11 Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
Demonstrate your faith by active obedience. The Israelites in the desert failed to enter into God’s rest because of their disobedience. Likewise, today, disobedience is evidence of a lack of faith and will result in “falling short” of God’s promised rest. Today, this is people who hear the gospel message, but fail to combine the gospel message with faith. The result of the failure is destruction.
4. God’s word is powerful ()
4. God’s word is powerful ()
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
In the Scriptures, God’s Word is often compared to a sword.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.
In the Scriptures, God’s Word is often compared to a sword.
16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:
In the Scriptures, God’s Word is often compared to a sword.
15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.
A. God’s Word is a tool of discernment.
A. God’s Word is a tool of discernment.
It is able to penetrate the deepest corners of the human mind.
B. God’s Word is living and active.
B. God’s Word is living and active.
God’s Word is not some relic of history. It is still relevant and active today. God’s Word has the intended effect in people’s lives. God’s word changes people.
C. God’s Word is a word of judgment.
C. God’s Word is a word of judgment.
Just as a sword cuts and slashes, God’s Word penetrates into people’s lives and reveals the innermost parts of the human mind.
D. Nothing is hidden from God.
D. Nothing is hidden from God.
The word “naked” is the concept of not having adequate clothing for covering. It was also a figurative term for being helpless, unprotected, and vulnerable. Nothing can be hidden from God. Everything is laid bare before him.
The writer has painted a picture for his readers. Will they embrace the promise of God and enter into his rest or will they be like the Israelites in the desert and reject God’s word and fail to enter into his rest. This is a moment of decision. The Word of God can either be a word of promise and hope or a word of judgment and punishment. Accepting the Word of God by faith will result in entering in God’s rest. Rejection will result in judgment and punishment.