Hebrews 4

The Ultimate Rest of God For His People vv1-13

Chapter four picks up on the “rest” theme where chapter three left off.  Just as chapters two and three begin with an exhortation to “take earnest heed” and to carefully “consider” the words of Christ, so chapter four begins in the same way by admonishing the reader to “fear” the authority and weight of what Christ is saying lest we find ourselves unable to enter God’s rest.  By fearing what Christ has said the author is recommending a faith that is obedient to Christ, which is in line with the call to obedience so that we might enter God’s rest (v1).

In chapter three, the author used a quote from Psalm 95 to demonstrate how the Hebrews who left Egypt ultimately failed to enter God’s rest because of their disobedient unbelief.  Picking up again that Psalm in chapter four, the author applies the OT principle to NT requirement of belief.  He says the heard the announcement of the good news, the gospel, not of Christ crucified, but the good news of a promised land.  But the mere announcement did not do them any good seeing they did not meet the news with belief.  By intentionally using the word “gospel” to refer to God’s rest, the author shows us again his hermeneutical skill showing how a OT theme of rest finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ and His rest (v2).

If you trace the theme of rest through the Bible, of course the first instance is where God rested from His work on the seventh day (v4).  The theme of rest appears again has God leads them to the promised land.  In this concept, God’s people will find rest in the land God is bringing them to.  But even after they entered the land and the Psalmist began to write (v7), the theme of rest is picked up again extending further than just a parcel of land, but rather an ultimate rest that God gives His people (v6,9). In this ultimate rest still to come God will cause His people to rest from all their work and toil (v10).

Verse 11 calls for us to labor to enter that rest?  What is the labor we must do?  It has already been mentioned several times.  “Take heed”, “consider”, and “fear” are all ways for us to labor first in our understanding of who Jesus is, and secondly obey the announcement of the Gospel.  Otherwise, we will faith to take part of so great salvation if we meet God’s announcement with unbelief.

Often verse 12 gets pulled out of its context to mean that God’s word is a weapon in our hands to teach, convict, and guide others.  But if one allows for the context, verse 12 is God’s word, particular the word mediated through Christ, is a weapon against our own-selves.   God will know whose heart harbors unbelief and whose heart steadfastly believes.  By taking heed, carefully considering, and fearing, the reader utilizes God’s word to reveal in himself what sort of belief he or she possess.  Through the Word of God, a person can have all their assurances that they belong to God and will take part in His rest.

Our Faithful High Priest Jesus Christ vv14-16

We are reminded again of our High Priest Jesus Christ, who understand our weaknesses.  So as the Word of God cuts and exposes, remember that Jesus stands as a gentle mediator able to extend grace to the sinner and cover a multitude of sins in His own blood.  He is already willing to act as our middle man, so let us come boldly to Him with prayer asking for forgiveness and grace as the Word of God reveals our imperfections (v14-16).