Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Quote

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

In 4:1–2 the author executes a transition that moves the discourse from the topic of the faithless, disobedient wanderers (3:7–19), who are used as a negative example, to the promise of rest for the new-covenant people of God (4:3–11).

The author’s main point in this transition is that there is a “rest” of which the psalm speaks that some of the hearers will miss if they do not respond appropriately (4:1).

In 4:2 the analogy between the community addressed and those who fell in the wilderness is reiterated.

Both communities have had the “good news” preached to them, but the preached word is not enough; faith must come into play.

The implication is that the first hearers of Hebrews must respond in faith in order to avoid the situation of the disobedient of the desert.

Scripture

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:1-5 - Promise of Rest

Hebrews 4:6-11 - True Sabbath Rest

Hebrews 4:12-13 - The Living Word of God

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

The Sabbath promise still stands so strive to enter God’s rest

Hebrews 4:1-5 - Promise of Rest

Therefore,

Continuation of thought regarding the Numbers 14 incident

Continuation of the warning - Be diligent to enter God’s rest

While the promise of entering his rest still stands,

Promise

ⓑ in our lit.

more generally of divine promises

His rest

Still stands

④ to cause someth.

to remain in existence

The promise of entering God’s rest is still available.

The door has not closed.

Eternal rest is only available through the victorious and redemptive work of Jesus

Let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Us - the author includes himself in the warning

You - PLURAL

Failed

① to miss out on someth.

through one’s own fault

Psalm 95:7–11 (ESV)

7c Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

9 when your fathers put me to the test

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

10 For forty years I loathed that generation

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,

and they have not known my ways.”

11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

The fear mentioned here is a reverential fear not one of condemnation.

The fear is real.

The author is warning the flock that they would not be found in Christ on Judgement.

Do not become like the Exodus generation - some traveled all the way to the Promised Land, but failed to enter God’s rest.

Their disbelief in God resulted in them not entering eternal rest.

This church, unlike the Exodus generation, has not been rejected

For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them,

Good News

② mostly specif.

proclaim the divine message of salvation, proclaim the gospel

Benefit

① to provide assistance, help, aid, benefit, be of use (to)

The Good News to the Israelites was Moses leading them out of Egypt as the Lord said He would.

For us the Good News is the Gospel

Because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Only Joshua and Caleb were those who had faith to enter the Promised Land

Their Good News did not benefit them because they lacked faith in God

They originally received the good news in faith, but the next 40 years were defined by disobedience

There were those who had faith in God and entered the Promised Land

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

Believed

② to entrust oneself to an entity in complete confidence

Future rest

Eternal inheritance

Heavenly country

New Jerusalem

True believers receive the eschatological rest promised by God

Though an eschatological view, believers enjoy the rest promised by God now as well.

The Kingdom of God is both a present and future reality

“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.”

God’s creation work finished after days 1-6

The rest He implements looms over the patriarchs, the Exodus generation, and into today

And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

Hebrews 4:6-11 - True Sabbath Rest

Since therefore

Continuation of thought regarding the Numbers 14 incident

Continuation of the warning - Be diligent to enter God’s rest

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.”

You/Your - PLURAL