Hebrews 4:1-13

Last week’s section and this week’s section are divided in our Bibles

But in reality, this is the continuation of what was begun last week

Last week: Do not harden your hearts

This week: Do not fail to enter His rest

Hebrews 4:1–10 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Rest comes by faith

Hebrews 3:19 ESV

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

vs 2: Good news came to them, but what they heard did not benefit them

They lacked the faith

Heard vs Listening

Married couples- Drastic difference between hearing and listening

Barclay

The Letter to the Hebrews The Rest We Dare Not Miss (Hebrews 4:1–10)

There are many different kinds of hearing in this world. There is indifferent hearing, uninterested hearing, critical hearing, sceptical hearing, cynical hearing. The hearing that matters is the hearing that listens eagerly, believes and acts.

The Words fell on them evenly. They all heard, but not all listened. This listening is due to the faith of the hearer.

Calvin

Unbelief alone shuts us out; then faith alone opens an entrance.

Rest is Available

Vs 1 “While the promise of entering his rest still stands”

vs 3 “We who have believed enter that rest”

“have believed” past tense = Conversion

“enter” present tense

This rest is not just a future hope, but a present reality

Eschatology talks about “Already, but not yet”

This rest in verse 3 is the already

The rest that we experience now

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

vs 6 “Since therefore it remains for some to enter it”

vs 9 “So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God”

Colossians 2:16–17 ESV

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Sinclair Ferguson

From the very beginning God had given a weekly symbol to men and women, of a much deeper rest than simply a weekly cessation from labor or entry into a promised land.

Spurgeon

Here, rest is but partial, there it is perfect. Here, the Christian is always unsettled; he feels that he has not yet attained. There, all are at rest; they have attained the summit of the mountain; they have ascended to the bosom of their God.

Rest is entered by those who persevere

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This Sabbath Rest is what we are striving to enter into

The eschatological Sabbath rest when all of our working and striving is over

This Rest is the final reward

Strive to enter into rest

Sounds counter intuitive

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

John Owen

Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

vs 13

exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account

“Only God can judge me”