07 Promise of Rest

Chapter four begins with another bridge (the word “therefore”). In this case it connects with the author’s previous comments in the previous chapter. 

1 An Important Warning

Hebrews 4:1-2

• Now here’s the reason for the “therefore” and the passage the author is connecting us to:

Hebrews 3:17-19

It was because of unbelief that those Israelites who’d wandered the wilderness, were prevented from entering the Promised Land.

• The author is showing how New Testament believers must learn from the Israelites tragic mistake.
• One of the key phrases found here in chapter 4, is the “rest” God has for those who continue in Him:

Hebrews 4:1

But it was unbelief which had prevented the Israelites from realizing God’s blessings for them.

So many do not understand or believe God’s great desires for them:

Ephesians 3:20

• Rest speaks of being and peace and a ceasing of hostilities. 

We reject God’s rest, when we improperly use our free will, and fail to utilize faith:

Hebrews 4:2

The Bible is clear that belief comes about, when we mix hearing the word with our faith:

Romans 10:17

2 God’s Rest

• There are two distinct camps – those who chose to live by faith, and those who live outside of faith:

Hebrews 4:3-5

• Only believers (those who’ve responded to the Word by faith) – who will enter God’s rest.

The author used another Old Testament verse, which would have been familiar to his audience:

Psalm 95:1

The idea of God’s rest is based upon the Lord’s “resting” after six days of creation:

Genesis 2:2

• For those who might claim the Sabbath rest would satisfy this idea, we see how the Sabbath was a “type” or picture of that which would come (Jesus).

Jesus showed that, in how He would respond to the Jewish leaders’ challenges of how He didn’t observe the Sabbath as they believed He should:

Mark 2:27-28

Rest also speaks of ceasing to strive, which for the New Testament believer, is a wonderful picture of how Jesus performed the only acceptable work, when He sacrificed Himself for us at Calvary. His “work” therefore points to our position of rest. 

3 Rest for God’s People

The author then made the point (through Scripture) to show that the rest being spoken of here, is a permanent rest, and far more than the weekly Sabbath rest:

Hebrews 4:6-10

We see in the passage, that God desires that His people enter His rest, even though the Israelites forfeited that privilege through unbelief, it doesn’t mean other cannot enter. 

• God has purposed that rest, for those who walk by faith.

Here’s how verse 2 reads in the New Living Translation, which provides more clarity about this subject:

Hebrews 4:2 “For this good news – that God has prepared this rest – has been announced to us – just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.” (NLT)

And as we see in verse 7, there is an appeal not to act as those in the wilderness had done.

Verse 8 shows that if the Israelites would have received rest when they entered the Promised Land (as led by Joshua), then all of what the author had been speaking about would have been meaningless.

Therefore, the author alluded to a portion of Psalm 7, to show the importance of immediately responding to the Lord’s Word:

Psalm 95:7

Verse 9 makes it clear, that God’s rest is for those who belong to Him by faith (either Jew or Gentile). 

In verse 10, we see that those who experience God’s rest, should not continue in works, since striving negates the walk of faith.