Sexagesima (2026)

Hebrews 4:9-13

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we find in our epistle lesson this morning a passage which speaks to the eternal rest, from labor and work that mankind seeks. The world we as we know through sin and the failings of Adam was cursed on account of His Sin and his failing as the steward of Creation. The resulting corruption so afflicted the world that it is not only death that reigns over mankind, but that the labor which was to be peaceful is now accomplished with toil, and if we do not toil we find ourselves in all manner of hardship and difficulties as things fall apart, be it our homes, our fields, our cars, and even our own flesh. There is a constant push to labor needed just to maintain things, and further effort needed to grow and improve them. So is it any wonder that so many of us long for rest and this has to do with the Sabbath.

What was the Sabbath?

It’s Hebrew for ceasing work.

It was a time in ancient Israel when the labors of the day, and the marketplace, and even lighting fires for baking was set aside to have a day dedicated to the Lord. This practice really came together during the Exodus, when they would gather their food 6 days a week, and on the 7th day rest from their work. But Originally it

It comes from genesis.

When God created the heavens and the earth, God created it all in 6 literal days. Not millions upon millions of years, but in 6 literal days. This evidenced by the 7th day, being a day of rest. For it established the framework for their week, that they would rest from their labors one day a week.

We will find this in paradise.

This is what is being discussed here in Hebrews that we strive to enter that rest, that sabbath to be done from our work and our Labor and dwell in the presence of God. We will finally rest from the work and the struggle and everything that has dominated our life here on earth. But we are urged to enter that rest and that we be on guard that we do not fall

Falling Through Disobedience

The Old Testament gives examples.

The book of Hebrews is full of references back to the Old Testament, and its why you and I as Christians ought to know it, for the Old Testament is God’s Word just as the New Testament is. There is much to be gained from it that we might not fall into the same sins that they did. We can learn from it that there is a very real concern and danger that we would fall away.

It’s in the garden, and in the exodus.

There are other spots as well, but I don’t wish to exhaust the point. When Satan came to go after Adam and Eve, Satan didn’t come at them and say they ought to reject God’s Word. That would be like him showing up in a red costume with horns and a pitchfork, we would be like get behind me satan, I’m not going to fall into your trap. He attacks God’s Word and asks did God really say. We see that again, in the Exodus that over and over, the people doubt God’s Word. They make golden idols, they chase after pleasure, the don’t listen about keeping the sabbath day, the curse God’s name and so even though they were brought out of the land of slavery, they died in the wilderness for their sins.

We can fall from grace.

That is why the text here says strive, do not be idle, when it comes to your faith, and don’t think that you can abandon God’s Word and be fine. This is what the parable of the seeds is about that let the word grow for a time, and then it withers and dies because of persecution or cares and they don’t make it. Adam and Eve were both without sin and fell, Israel was saved from slavery, but died in the wilderness. For the Word of God is Living

The Living Word

We dare not mistreat the Word.

For what we have here are not just the words of men as we learned last week, but the Bible is the Word of God, that was written by men who were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Who uses this very Word to bring us to life and keep us in the faith. So if you think of the Bible as boring, simple, or unimportant, you need to repent. You want to be in the Word, for

For the word is not idle.

It isn’t passive or weak, or listless, it’s living, and active, it works upon the hearts and minds of men to awaken them from the sleep of sin, and bring them to life. It takes and transforms us from being indifferent sinners who lazily move through this world into living Christians who seek God’s glory. This is important, because when it comes to the judgment,

God judges actions and the heart.

For on the outside you can mimic the behaviors of a Christian, you can pretend, and you walk the walk, and look on the outside to be perfect and decent, for good works make excellent camouflage, but God sees your heart, and He peers into the very truth of your soul. You can hide them from men, but not from Him, and to Him we have to give an account. But what’s in the heart of men? Nothing good.

The Heart of Man

What hope is there?

When the Bible tells us that the heart of man is evil continually from our youth, and Jesus says, out of the heart comes come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Is it any wonder that so many despise and detest the Word, and flee from it as it reveals who we are, and we have to wrestle with the fact that none of us are good enough, but this

This is why we have a high priest.

Who has ascended into heaven for our sake, and stands before the throne of God, and asks that God may not judge you based upon your heart, and the evil that dwells therein, but rather that the Father would see look at another heart that truly loves God, and loves His neighbor.

We rely on Jesus’ heart.

That’s why we have the cross there with Christ crucified upon it, because we see the heart of Jesus made manifest by what He has suffered for us. What a beautiful sight that is, for even though he is suffering, He even though He gasps for breath, and He hangs there bleeding and waiting to die, He is there because of the Love He has for His Father, and His Love for you.

Our Savior’s Heart

The Word tells us to trust Jesus.

If those were just the words of men, we would say bah, what do men know, and what good are the words of any man, for they all perish, and their plans with them. God by His Word has been pointing us to His Son since the Garden, when He promised to Adam and Eve a Savior, When He promised to Israel a land where they would live in peace. Jesus has showed us by His Resurrection that we can trust His promises.

Jesus is the way to the Father.

There is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved, and without the Word you would not be saved. For it is the Word that reveals our sins, and shows us our savior through the Law and the Gospel. So cherish the Word, and hold on to it.

Jesus cleanses our sinful hearts.

If it were to just wash us on the outside that would be no issue, but to cleanse our hearts, to wash out the filth in our bones, to cleanse the sin that sits inside of us body and soul, the Word had to cut through hearts and minds made of stone, that the Life and Love that Christ has might be poured into our hearts to heal us from this affliction. The Word hurts when the Law comes, but it does so that the medicine might be given to you and restore us to life.

So my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, cherish the Word, Hold to the Word, for it is living and active and it has brought us to life. Do not allow temptation to overtake you, do not allow yourself to be lead away from the Word for many have done so and have fallen from grace. If you have fallen, hear the voice of your shepherd who calls out for you, Jesus didn’t go the cross that you might perish in your sin, but rather that you might be healed. So heed His Voice, and do not flee as He begins the process of healing you through the Law and the Gospel, that you may enter into that eternal rest, and dwell with God in everlasting peace. In Jesus name. Amen.