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| Chapter 4 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left to us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter into rest, as He said, "As I have sworn in My wrath, ’If they shall enter into My rest’-- although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works." 5 And again in this place: "If they shall enter into My rest. "--. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David "today," after so long a time, as it is said, "Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterwards have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he that has entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 11 ¶ Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall according to the same example of unbelief. 12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. |
v1-13 The Promise of a better Rest, (Heb 4:1-11). Three kinds of rest listed: 1)Rest in Canaan after Joshua led the people into the Promised Land. 2)Spiritual rest through faith. 3)Eternal rest, just as God rested on the Sabbath. v1,2 God made a promise that He will supply "a place of rest" for His people the Jews, this promise was first given when they left Egypt. The writer is now warning the readers that this promise might be lost by their unbelief. The readers had heard the message of salvation and were also receivers of this promise, some had rejected the Word of salvation just like the promises made to their fathers in the wilderness. Those who had believed the Gospel brought by Christ will be able to enter into this promised rest. This "rest" had been available since creation was completed by God, after the work was finished God rested on the seventh day. God cannot actually be resting at this time as the work of spreading the message of salvation as well as controlling all the universe is still going on. v5,6 The Jews had entered into the ‘promised land’ of Canaan but God makes the same promise of rest in Psalms, so indicating that the rest is not an earthly place. v7 God (Holy Spirit) speaks through David telling that on a certain day man will enter into the rest as long as they do not turn away from Him. v8 The rest that came through Joshua was not the true promised rest. "And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand." Joshua 21:43,44. But this was not what God meant by His promise. Psalms 95:6-11. v9 The word used for rest changes to a word meaning Sabbath rest in this verse. Some feel that this indicates that the "rest" offered through Moses and the Law had now been changed to a "rest" through the New Covenant. It is clear that God intends His people to share His own sabbath rest. This is the reward that has been reserved for them. v10 When a person enters this ‘rest of God’ then their own work will cease. This appears to be in the future, but Matt 11:28,29 indicates that with salvation comes an experience of this "rest." v11 So the writer points out that we must all work towards that rest, why because if we fail to live for the Lord we could ‘fall’ by a lack of faith. v12 God’s Word has the same attributes (features of a person) as God Himself, being living, active and full of power. The Word of God is active and never fails to fulfil what was intended. Salvation or Judgement are the normal result. The verse describes God’s Word as a ‘sword’ which can cut in either direction, able to cut into the soul and spirit of a man, right down to the thoughts and desires. A very powerful weapon. v13 When a man is touched by the Word of God then the man is also being touched by God. All the world is under His control and cannot hide from His vision, everything is striped bare by His Word. When we hear the Word then we have to do something to answer it, either by responding and obeying or rejecting and ignoring it. One day we will all have to stand before God and to give an account of our response to the Word. Jesus is a Superior PriestHood, (Heb 4:14-10:18) Christ our Great High Priest Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10. v14,15 He has won over Sin. The words "we have a great High Priest" Jesus, this indicates that some of the readers may have been claiming that Christianity did not have a priesthood like the Mosaic Law, not only does this priest exist but He is also very different to the Aaronic priesthood as He has moved into heaven, a position and person far superior to Aaron, this High Priest is in the presence of God for eternity, not in a temporary building, the tabernacle on earth. This is a complete change in the Priesthood, the priest was only allowed into the Holy of Holies under special conditions, a physical relationship against a spiritual relationship. The name "Jesus the Son of God" has also joined humanity with God encourages the readers to keep their faith strong, their confession of belief in Jesus. Infirmities (physical weakness, illness) is not necessarily due to sin in this passage, neither is suffering, the passage is talking about all human nature. This High Priest was exposed to all these human natures yet did not fail and sin. It also reminds us that Christ knows what His children are going through and can suffer with them. Consider Acts 9:4 Paul’s ‘hunting’ of Christians was ‘persecuting’ Jesus. v16 What a wonderful verse, because of our High Priest’s sacrifice we can come right to the throne of God where the glorified Saviour sits, at this throne we can find mercy and the grace of God, they are available for us to use in our daily life until we reach His rest. |
Easy English Translation
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