Hebrews 4

Enter God's Rest and Draw Near to the Great High Priest

Because God's promised rest still stands, believers must fear unbelief, receive God's word with faith, strive to enter rest, submit to the exposing word of God, and draw near with confidence to Jesus the great high priest.

World English Bible, Public Domain

The promise of rest still stands, but hearing must be joined with faith.

Hebrews 4:1-13

The promise of God's rest still stands today, and entrance into that rest depends on persevering faith, not mere exposure to God's Word.

1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.

The author uses creation rest and Psalm 95 to show that God's rest remains available through the present call of 'Today.'

3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”

5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience,

7 he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

Joshua's leadership did not exhaust God's promise of rest, so a deeper Sabbath-rest remains for God's people.

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

The church must persevere by faith and not repeat Israel's disobedience.

11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

The living word of God penetrates the inner person and exposes all before God's sight.

12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

Jesus the great high priest sympathizes with weakness and gives mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

The believer's confidence rests not in personal strength but in a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, understands our weakness, and grants access to the throne of grace.

14 Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.

15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

Key Terms

κατάπαυσις katapausis G2663
φοβέομαι phobeomai G5399
ἐπαγγελία epangelia G1860
εὐαγγελίζω euangelizō G2097
πίστις pistis G4102
σαββατισμός sabbatismos G4520
σπουδάζω spoudazō G4704
λόγος logos G3056
ζάω zaō G2198
ἐνεργής energēs G1756
κριτικός kritikos G2924
ὁμολογία homologia G3671

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details