Hebrews 4:1-13

The Believer's Rest

1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ¹come short of it.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but ²the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "³AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished ⁴from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has said ⁵somewhere concerning the seventh day: "⁶AND GOD ⁷RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS ";

5 and again in this passage, "⁸THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."

6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ⁹disobedience,

7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just ¹⁰as has been said before, "¹¹TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

8 For ¹²if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ¹³rested from his works, as ¹⁴God did from His.

11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so * that no one will fall, through following the same ¹⁵example of ¹⁶disobedience.

12 For ¹⁷the word of God is ¹⁸living and ¹⁹active and sharper than any two-edged ²⁰sword, and piercing as far as the division of ²¹soul and ²²spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ²³able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And ²⁴there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ²⁵open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Hebrews 4:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 4

From the punishment inflicted on the unbelieving Hebrews, who died in the wilderness, and entered not into the land of rest made mention of in the preceding chapter, the apostle proceeds to caution the present Hebrews of his time, and who professed faith in Christ, lest seeing there was a rest, and a promise of entering into it, they should seem to come short of it, Heb 4:1, and the rather, since they that fell in the wilderness had the Gospel preached to them as well as they; and the reason why it did not profit was, because it was not received by faith, Heb 4:2 as also seeing it is by faith that believers now enter into rest, Heb 4:3 which rest is not the rest of the seventh day, on which God rested; nor, the rest of the land of Canaan, which Joshua led the Israelites into; for if he had entered them into the rest the apostle means, David, so many hundred years after him, would not have made mention of another rest, Heb 4:4-8 wherefore it follows that there is another rest for the people of God, which he that enters into ceases from his own works, as God did from his, Heb 4:9,10 and this is the rest that everyone that professes faith in Christ, should be solicitous and diligent to enter into, lest he should fall short of it through unbelief; as the unbelieving Israelites did of their rest, Heb 4:11 and the arguments engaging to such a concern are taken from the properties and perfections of Christ, the essential Word of God; particularly from his omnipotence and his omniscience, Heb 4:12,13. And seeing he is by nature the Son of God, and by office a great high priest that is entered into heaven for his people, the encouragement is great to hold fast the profession of faith in him they have made, Heb 4:14 and the rather since he is a sympathizing high priest, as he must needs be, since he has been tempted, afflicted, and has suffered every way as his people, and is in all respects like them, excepting that he has no sin, Heb 4:15 and this consideration should engage believers to come to the throne of grace with all boldness, and in expectation of having grace and mercy bestowed on them for the supply of their daily wants, Heb 4:16.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 12:15
• 2. Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13
• 3. Psalms 95:11; Hebrews 3:11
• 4. Matthew 25:34
• 5. Hebrews 2:6
• 6. Genesis 2:2
• 7. Exodus 20:11; Exodus 31:17
• 8. Psalms 95:11; Hebrews 3:11
• 9. Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:11
• 10. Hebrews 3:7
• 11. Psalms 95:7
• 12. Joshua 22:4
• 13. Revelation 14:13
• 14. Genesis 2:2; Hebrews 4:4
• 15. 2 Peter 2:6
• 16. Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6
• 17. Jeremiah 23:29; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 6:5; 1 Peter 1:23
• 18. Acts 7:38
• 19. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
• 20. Ephesians 6:17
• 21. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• 22. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• 23. John 12:48; 1 Corinthians 14:24
• 24. 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalms 33:13-15
• 25. Job 26:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "of hearing"
• [b]. Two early mss read "they were...faith with those who heard"
• [c]. Or "in"
• [d]. Gr "Jesus"