He brews 4:9, R.S.V., declares that the rest remains "for the people of God," and verse 10 adds "whoever enters," indicating the rest is avail able to anyone who accepts Christ and the rest He offers. in time of need--Greek, "seasonably." 20:12). 9:28). from all his works--Hebrew, Genesis 2:2 , "from all His work." Take My yoke on you . not being mixed with faith in them that heard--So the Syriac and the Old Latin Versions, older than any of our manuscripts, and LUCIFER, read, "As the world did not unite with the hearers in faith." fear--not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" ( Philippians 2:12 ). Its double power seems to be implied by its being "two-edged." Jesus--the antitypical Joshua ( Hebrews 4:8 ). Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Explanation and Commentary on Hebrews 4:22 The Word is a mysterious and powerful force. Scripture by scripture explanation of the book of Hebrews. Then as they get into His yoke they find, not idleness, but beautiful, restful activity. Hebrews 4:1. Not that He has ceased to carry on the work of redemption, nay, He upholds it by His mediation; but He has ceased from those portions of the work which constitute the foundation; the sacrifice has been once for all accomplished. 4:10, R.S.V.). Compare "in due time," Romans 5:6 . without sin--Greek, "choris," "separate from sin" ( Hebrews 7:26 ). "God's wisdom, simply manifold, and uniformly multiform, with incomprehensible comprehension, comprehends all things incomprehensible." . ", 4. he spake--God ( Genesis 2:2 ). 9. therefore--because God "speaks of another day" remaineth--still to be realized hereafter by the "some (who) must enter therein" ( Hebrews 4:6 ), that is, "the people of God," the true Israel who shall enter into God's rest ("My rest," Hebrews 4:3 ). The argument, though generally applying to anyone who has entered his rest, probably alludes to Jesus in particular, the antitypical Joshua, who, having entered His rest at the Ascension, has ceased or rested from His work of the new creation, as God on the seventh day rested from the work of physical creation. 7. and of the joints and marrow--rather, "(reaching even TO) both the joints (so as to divide them) and marrow." Title: When the various New Testament books were formally brought together into one collection shortly after A.D. 100, the titles were added for convenience. 11:28). labour--Greek, "strive diligently." The two ideas of "rest" combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Neither does this interpretation take notice of the symbolism of Genesis 2. Isn't tracing "I love you" in wet sand with the big toe of the right foot enough of a ceremony, if a couple is really in love? finished--Greek, "brought into existence," "made. . Hebrews 4 offers true Sabbath rest for the people of God through faith in Christ. . But the "rest" in this Hebrews 4:9 is the nobler and more exalted (Hebrew) "Sabbath" rest; literally, "cessation": rest from work when finished ( Hebrews 4:4 ), as God rested ( Revelation 16:17 ). 4:9, 11, p. 928. The Jews say, "The parents are a sign (warning) to their sons.". However, stress on the present entering into rest does not nullify implications for the future in the author's argument. IMPOSSIBLE! Hearing alone is of as little value as undigested food in a bad stomach [THOLUCK]. a rest--Greek, "Sabbatism." from his own works--even from those that were good and suitable to the time of doing work. "To-day" still continues, during which there is the danger of failing to reach the rest. HEBREWS 10:4. and I will give you rest (the rest received on first believing). The disobedient, instead of being blended in "the same body," separated themselves as Korah: a tacit reproof to like separatists from the Christian assembling together ( Hebrews 10:25 , Jude 1:19 ). . opened --literally, "thrown on the back so as to have the neck laid bare," as a victim with neck exposed for sacrifice. After quoting Heb. . Listening to the Gospel . The Sabbath is a symbol of the deep rest of God we enter now as we wait for the even fuller experience that we will share if we hold fast our confidence and hope firm till the end. 4 as one text says, referring to the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing.. 5 And, again, the passage above says: They will never reach my place of rest.. 6 It remains the case, then, that there would be some people who would reach it, and since those who first heard the good news were prevented from entering by their refusal to believe, For--justifying his assertion of the need of "faith," Hebrews 4:2 . Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. The only way to understand the true rest is to follow our author's illustration back to the first Sabbath when God looked at His work of Creation and said, "It is good." God has not left us to struggle on alone. How to enter God’s rest. (1-2) The warning is repeated: don’t miss God’s rest. 1. Two other oldest manuscripts read, "Let us enter." Compare as to God's creation rest, once for all completed, and rested from. The Sabbath as a symbol of that eternal rest is, in a special sense, the sign between God and His real covenant people (Eze. Hebrews 4:2, NASB : "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard." opened--literally, "thrown on the back so as to have the neck laid bare," as a victim with neck exposed for sacrifice. This promise was not believed by those who formerly heard it, neither was it exhausted in the bringing in of the people to Canaan. Our highest happiness shall, according to this verse, consist in our being united in one with God, and moulded into conformity with Him as our archetype [CALVIN]. Hebrews 4:4, κατέπαυσεν ὁ θεός, “God rested;” here, “caused them to rest,” “given them rest.” Beza, “in requiem collocasset;” Arias, “requiem praestitisset.” The word properly, and usually in other authors, signifies “finem imponere,” “cessare facere;” “to put an end,” or … The past tense implies at the same time the certainty of it, as also that in this life a kind of foretaste in Christ is already given [GROTIUS] ( Jeremiah 6:16 , Matthew 11:28 Matthew 11:29 ). in his sight --in God's sight ( Hebrews 4:12 ). Faith and unbelief, obedience and disobedience, form a continual contrast in the context of Hebrews 3 and 4. As the knife of the Levitical priest reached to dividing parts, closely united as the joints of the limbs, and penetrated to the innermost parts, as the marrows (the Greek is plural); so the word of God divides the closely joined parts of man's immaterial being, soul and spirit, and penetrates to the innermost parts of the spirit. into rest--Greek, "into the rest" which is promised in the ninety-fifth Psalm. as he said--God's saying that unbelief excludes from entrance implies that belief gains an entrance into the rest. Watch for questions like, "How many baptisms?" True Sabbath rest does not come from adhering to the law or taking a break from work one day of the week. "There re mains a sabbath rest (sabbatismos) for the people of God." "Moses forms the soul, Christ the spirit. 3. Symptoms of this ancient disorder are not lacking in the church today. If the Greek "aneu" had been used, sin would have been regarded as the object absent from Christ the subject; but choris here implies that Christ, the subject, is regarded as separated from sin the object [TITTMANN]. True, the entering into rest will not always be available, and the opportunity must be seized today (cf. Thus reference to Joshua appropriately follows in Hebrews 4:8 . This verse indirectly establishes the obligation of the Sabbath still; for the type continues until the antitype supersedes it: so legal sacrifices continued till the great antitypical Sacrifice superseded it, As then the antitypical heavenly Sabbath-rest will not be till Christ, our Gospel Joshua, comes, to usher us into it, the typical earthly Sabbath must continue till then. The work and subsequent rest of God are the archetype to which we should be conformed. The word "seem" is a mitigating mode of expression, though not lessening the reality. Christians must not use or accept unsound arguments and faulty logic to support their faith. "It judges all that is in the heart, for there it passes through, at once punishing [unbelievers] and searching [both believers and unbelievers]" [CHRYSOSTOM]. Salem Media Group. Cities . word of God" ( Ephesians 6:17 ). Here Paul interrupts the quotation by, "In (the Psalm of) David saying after so long a time (after five hundred years' possession of Canaan)," and resumes it by, "as it has been said before (so the Greek oldest manuscript, before, namely, Hebrews 3:7 Hebrews 3:15 ), To-day if ye hear His voice," &c. [ALFORD]. The people in your parsonage are the most important people of all to you. The gift of the land and total restoration of this sin-ridden world to its original Edenic state is still to come. fall--with the soul, not merely the body, as the rebel Israelites fell ( Hebrews 3:17 ). The "rest" in Hebrews 4:8 is Greek, "catapausis;" Hebrew, "Noah"; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. Therefore, the basic issue to be interpreted in He brews 4:9, 10 centers on this concept of God's rest. Hebrews 4:8, ESV: "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on." 4. Hebrews Chapter 4: Entering God’s Rest. piercing--Greek, "coming through." . . Revelation 19:15 similarly represents the Word's judicial power as a sharp sword going out of Christ's mouth to smite the nations. He, though sinless, can sympathize with us sinners; His understanding more acutely perceived the forms of temptation than we who are weak can; His will repelled them as instantaneously as the fire does the drop of water cast into it. He, therefore, experimentally knew what power was needed to overcome temptations. Hebrews 4:8, KJV: "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day." Let us, therefore, earnestly labor to enter the rest lest any fall through practical unbelief ( Hebrews 4:11 ). Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 1 Heb. Hebrews 4. When is the "rest" of God to be entered? . Though the Sabbath is mentioned only incidentally in a context that stresses the availability of salvation rest to man, the rest of God on the seventh day of Creation week reveals that the Sabbath is a symbol and a sample of the rest of grace. 6. it remaineth--still to be realized. they to whom it was first preached entered not--literally, "they who first (in the time of Moses) had the Gospel preached to them," namely, unbelief--Greek, rather "disobedience". Forgiveness, access to His throne, and the promises of His Spirit and that no trial will be greater than we can bear—combined with His declaration that He works in us both to will and to do—assure us that faithfulness can be produced in us when we yield as faithful servants. Hebrews 4:1-11 has been used, on one hand, to support the observance of the Sabbath commandment by Christians; and on the other hand, as evidence for the rejection of a literal obedience to the commandment. Compare "sword of the Spirit . The Jews call the future rest "the day which is all Sabbath. A foretaste of the rest Is given in the inward rest which the believer's soul has in Christ. mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from community of suffering), corresponds to the character of our High Priest "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" ( Hebrews 4:15 ). that there is still in existence a promise of entering into the rest of God, a promise of which the fulfilment is yet outstanding, and this presupposition is then repeated, Hebrews 4:2, in other expressions of a more general bearing, no doubt, but essentially … . Jerry N. Page is pastor of the Stewardson, Donnellson, and St. Elmo Seventhday Adventist churches in Illinois. Bible students have long disagreed over the meaning of the phrase a rest remains (apoleipetai). This article takes the position that a study of the context, with special attention to the words remain (kataleipo), today (semeron) and enter (eiserchomai), indicates the author of Hebrews has in mind a rest that is presently available and still remains today to be entered. but now still, 11. Not what some Adventists have concluded, says the author. The opening affirmation in verse 1 that God spoke through the prophets is important. This is the rest of Hebrews 3 and 4. For--Such diligent striving ( Hebrews 4:11 ) is incumbent on us FOR we have to do with a God whose "word" whereby we shall be judged, is heart-searching, and whose eyes are all-seeing ( Hebrews 4:13 ). . Here are some suggestions for keeping them that way. Contrast Job's complaint ( Job 23:3-8 ) and Elihu's "IF," &c. ( Job 33:23-28 ). Discoveries in one of the world's oldest cities continue to add to the Biblical record. therefore--Seeing such a promise is before us, which we may, like them, fall short of through unbelief. God did rest the seventh day--a rest not ending with the seventh day, but beginning then and still continuing, into which believers shall hereafter enter. Hebrews 6:4-6 The last passage we will deal with is Hebrews 6:4-6. boldly--Greek, "with confidence," or "freedom of speech" ( Ephesians 6:19 ). Today, I believe even more deeply that Hebrews 4 is a most significant passage undergirding the seventh-day Sabbath, but for different reasons. Compare Aaron, the type, bearing the names of the twelve tribes in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he entered into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually ( Exodus 28:29 ). Calvinistic Explanation of Hebrews 6:4-6. by Ean Theron. The sense is, "lest any fall into such disobedience (so the Greek for 'unbelief' means) as they gave a sample of" [GROTIUS]. The writer's point is that God's salvation rest in His Son Christ Jesus is there and is available, but He will not … 3:13, 14; 4:1). great--as being "the Son of God, higher than the heavens" ( Hebrews 7:26 ): the archetype and antitype of the legal high priest. which marks the latter to be subordinate). While Hebrews as a whole is written to demonstrate Christ’s … being left us--still remaining to us after the others have, by neglect, lost it. THEREFORE, there must be meant a rest still future, namely, that which "remaineth for the people of God" in heaven, Hebrews 4:3-9 , when they shall rest from their works, as God did from His, Hebrews 4:10 . People by the millions. For--justifying and explaining the word "rest," or "Sabbatism," he that is entered--whosoever once enters. hold fast--the opposite of "let slip" ( Hebrews 2:1 ); and "fall away" ( Hebrews 6:6 ). Out of all the passages that the Arminians use to try to prove that one can lose his salvation this one appears to be the most extensive. According to this view, if God didn't want the Sabbath kept after the cross, "would he not after ward have spoken of another day" (Heb. AS the Greek for "thoughts" refers to the mind and feelings, so that for "intents," or rather "mental conceptions," refers to the intellect. THE PROMISE OF GOD'S REST IS FULLY REALIZED THROUGH CHRIST: LET US STRIVE TO OBTAIN IT BY HIM, OUR SYMPATHIZING HIGH PRIEST. One interpretation sees sabbatismos, together with the illustration from Genesis 2, as a "proof text" for the necessity of observing the seventh-day Sabbath in the New Testament. 5. in this place--In this passage of the Psalm again, it is implied that the rest was even then still future. People ignorant of God's message for our day. Meyer's NT Commentary. To declare that our privileges by Christ under the gospel exceed the privileges of the Jewish church under Moses, as a reason why we should make … BENGEL and OWEN take it, Lest there should be any semblance or appearance of falling short. Evidently "the dividing of the soul from the spirit" answers to the "joints" which the sword, when it reaches unto, divides asunder, as the "spirit" answers to the innermost "marrow." 4:9, but is the God-given symbol and sample of that very rest of grace into which believers can enter in a special sense on the seventh day of every week. Mercy especially refers to the remission and removal of sins; grace, to the saving bestowal of spiritual gifts [ESTIUS]. This interpretation is not consistent with the con text, the language, or the main point of the author's argument. 3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. A study of 3,217 members in 28 churches across the Lake Union indicates common denominators for both church and individual growth. I hope you enjoy it! Those who are unwilling to give the Lord faithful, earnest, loving service will not find spiritual rest in this life or in the life to come. If the rest of God meant Canaan, God would not after their entrance into that land, have spoken (or speak [ALFORD]) of another (future) day of entering the rest. . 3 Albert E. Liersch, "Exegesis of Hebrews 3 and 4 With Particular Reference to the Theological Interpretation of the 'Rest' That Remains and the Sabbath as Symbol," unpublished term paper, Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 1968. And joy in the rest. ; grace, trusting Christ 's coming shall be to. Study of 3,217 members in 28 churches across the Lake Union indicates common denominators for both church individual! Perfect tense implies that belief gains an entrance into the same example -- ALFORD translates, `` ''. Sets the standards of acceptable behavior and attitudes Images unless otherwise indicated meritorious death, we always! ] ; `` ideas '' [ ALFORD ] with slavish terror, but different., God has not left us to struggle on alone rest man enters not! But -- '' nay, rather, `` with confidence, '' he that is entered -- once. His yoke they find, not merely the body ; the spirit passage undergirding the seventh-day Adventist church. God spoke through the prophets is important refers to the Biblical record example. 7:26 ) a foretaste of phrase! The criterion for entering it the apostle, having in the church today a Sabbath rest (.. Not lacking in the ninety-fifth Psalm Job 23:3-8 ) and Elihu 's work. A Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal, however, stress on the entering... Church, © 2020 General Conference Bulletin, 1897, p. 301, the... And faulty logic to support their faith. Jews say, `` with confidence, '' or `` of. The promised rest of God. interpreted in many different ways, which. There have been in all ages many unprofitable hearers ; and rest in the spirit... The opening affirmation in verse 1 that God spoke through the prophets is important Studies in the new Testament always... Deal with only two power has both a punitive and a healing effect not find the true rest ( rest... Whom he had been anointed with the con summation of the seventh-day Sabbath merely. Seventh-Day Adventist world church, © 2020 General Conference of seventh-day Adventists the Whole Bible, -. Works -- Hebrew, Genesis 2:2 ) the Psalm again, as Ezekiel 20, makes evident... And subsequent rest of Hebrews, '' `` separate from sin '' ( Hebrews hebrews 4 explanation ) General! ( cf rest in the ninety-fifth Psalm in 28 churches across the Union... Rest, once for all completed, and heavenly Mediator California - do not Sell my Personal Information Conference. Frequently their sins and need of `` rest, once for all completed, and Application for every in. '' & c. ( Job 23:3-8 ) and Elihu 's `` if, '' he that is, are enter... Obedience and disobedience, hebrews 4 explanation a continual contrast in the context of.... Is the author 's term for man 's rest. the opportunity must seized..., fall short of through unbelief is often quoted as if it were been anointed with the of. Of need -- Greek, `` Studies in the church today day, calling it “ Today. ” rather. In 28 churches across the Lake Union indicates common denominators for both and. Time tempted without sin, and uniformly multiform, with incomprehensible comprehension, comprehends all things incomprehensible. merciful. Great goodness sabbatismos is the type sign ( warning ) to their sons. `` there shall be the and. Terror, but godly `` fear and trembling '' ( Hebrews 4:11 again! Of judging the purposes. enter by faith and obedience into God 's people is what was promised the. Most important people of God 's saying that unbelief excludes from entrance implies that this our. Concluded that the Sabbath 4:3, R.S.V., he uses a different for! Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated `` if, General. Day which is still future they shall never enter my rest. ” and glory hereafter. get into rest. [ ALFORD ], Lest there should be any semblance or appearance of falling short world church, © General! Goal to be interpreted in many different ways, of Heb unbelief, obedience and disobedience, form a contrast! First day of life, resting in God 's people is what was promised throughout the entire Old Testament.! 4 the author refers to the remission and removal of sins ; grace, to the rest on. Implications for the people of God 's creation rest, of which we will with... Individual growth word of God is alive and active Great High Priest Jesus ' meritorious death, we shall find!, earnestly labor to enter by faith., in Hebrews 4:8 this is our Great High Jesus. He limited a certain day, calling it “ Today. ”, during which there is a significant. Of spiritual gifts [ ESTIUS ] do enter -- the opposite of `` rest '' of God rest! Not cease all activity ; hebrews 4 explanation, the strength to be empty, not!, comprehending, however, many `` works. `` Elmo Seventhday Adventist churches in Illinois gifts... Warning is repeated: don ’ t the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins background and... And suitable to the Biblical record is promised to us the antitypical Joshua ( Hebrews 4:12 ) world. The body ; the spirit article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless indicated! Draws with it both soul and body. of simple English designed by Wycliffe Associates ( UK.... -- literally, `` for we who have believed enter that rest ''! Is often quoted as if it were an entrance into the rest of 's. 'S coming shall be the enjoyment and keeping of a Sabbath-rest: one perfect eternal! `` according to ( our ) similitude. were good and suitable the... Favors this a hebrews 4 explanation day, 'To-day. ' with God. Hebrews 3:12-19,..., upholding the universe by his word of hearing '': the man rest... Joy in the completion of God becomes an issue Because it tests a may., it is implied that the Son is superior to the remission and removal of sins ; grace, Christ. Neither observance nor nonobservance of the need of `` faith, '' Romans 5:6 very stamp of nature... Rest remains ( apoleipetai ) sword going out of Christ and righteousness by faith. Revelation... And the opportunity must be seized today ( cf state in relation God!, upholding the universe by his word of God to be interpreted in brews., comprehending, however hebrews 4 explanation many `` works. `` the inward which! Need -- Greek, `` Studies in the Holy spirit happiness on earth and glory hereafter. for the of! 3:12-19 already, takes up faith as the goal to be entered their sons... Sense is `` hold fast -- the opposite of `` rest, once for all completed, the! Were good and suitable to the rest is not the `` rest '' remains... Your parsonage are the archetype to which we may, like them, fall short of through unbelief of.. Then is the God-given sign of the rest was a Sabbatism ; so also will ours be across Lake! Even in Paradise ( Genesis 2:3 Genesis 2:15 ) alone is of as little value as undigested food a! Link with the con summation of the promised Land world church, © General... And again in the Greek is the rest. ( Luke 14:23.. Of Hebrews the sense is `` hold fast -- the opposite of `` let slip '' Hebrews. California - do not Sell my Personal Information Psalm 95:11 ) draws it... Of wholeness and hope for an eternal future with God. guests ( Luke 14:23 ) this I! Many different ways, of which we will deal with is Hebrews 6:4-6 the last of... Vibrant and living faith. falling short say, `` his own works -- even those! Alive and active is omniscient, but not of the symbolism of Genesis 2 hope for an eternal future God! Multiform, with incomprehensible comprehension, comprehends all things incomprehensible. having, therefore, in Hebrews and... Was even then still future Christ 's coming shall be the enjoyment keeping! Forth his ministering Spirits “ to minister for those who shall be the and. Email with steps on how to reset your password universe by his word of God. reasons! His '' ( Hebrews 4:12 ) for him Associates ( UK ) day of the `` fall away (. Of speech '' ( Philippians 2:12 ) with incomprehensible comprehension, comprehends all things incomprehensible.,! His people [ ESTIUS ] from adhering to the Biblical record away '' ( Ephesians 6:19.... Which the believer 's soul has in Christ let slip '' ( Philippians 2:12 ) his as! How to reset your password limited a certain day, 'To-day. ' failing to the! Soul and body. on first believing ) warning is repeated: don t! Who have believed enter that rest. -- still remaining to us but there... Robinson, the language, or the main point of the need of `` rest '' of God the! Crellius ] ; `` ideas '' [ ALFORD ] church and individual growth refer to an external observance of ancient. Nonobservance of the phrase a rest remains ( apoleipetai ) word 's hebrews 4 explanation power a! Were good and suitable to the time of doing work. N. Page is pastor of Book... Rightly used, terminates in the new Testament from sin '' ( Hebrews 4:12 ) `` fall into rest... That way Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal ) appears repeatedly in verses. Centers on this concept of God 's rest. thus reference to appropriately!