General Letters Hebrews

Enter His Rest

Discover Jesus as: High Priest Hebrews 4 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 656 of 730
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INTRO

Our phrase for the book of Hebrews is High Priest. Jesus brought a better covenant to replace the Old Testament laws. Mindi’s painting for the book of Hebrews depicts a torn veil, representing the work of Jesus on the cross. There are 12 butterflies, which symbolize the freedom we have in Christ and represent the position of the high priest. The butterflies

are arranged so as to correlate to the stones on the breastplate of the Old Testament high priest. Because of the work of Jesus, the old breastplate is no longer needed. The butterflies are depicted as flying out of the torn veil, symbolizing the believer’s freedom in Christ.

Yesterday we learned in Hebrews 3 that Israel failed to enter into God’s rest because they didn’t hear God’s voice and they hardened their hearts. Hebrews 4 outlines how we can experience true freedom.

TEACHING

Hebrews 4:1: Chapter 4 begins with an admonition to enter God’s rest while it is still possible. Constable outlined five views of what this rest might look like:1

  1. Heaven
  2. Present rest in our riches in Christ
  3. Future enjoyment of all that God wants us to enjoy
  4. Some particular blessing in the eschatological future
  5. A peaceful life now as Christians

Regardless of the timeline of the rest believers will experience, Wiersbe still labels it “a better rest.”2 It is better than the angels, better than Moses, and even better than the Promised Land rest.

Hebrews 4:2–6: The rest available to the previous generations did not benefit them because they did not believe God’s message (v. 2). Those who believe God’s message are able to enter His rest now (v. 3). Wiersbe outlined the seeming tension between present rest and heavenly rest: “The first is the rest of salvation; the second is the rest of submission.”3

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).

Wiersbe further noted that properly understanding both salvation rest and submission rest results in peace both from God and with God.4

The author of Hebrews referred to God’s rest (Genesis 2:2), after creating the world to make the case that, “His works have been finished since the foundation of the world” (v. 3). All of God’s works, including Jesus’ death on the cross, were said to be “finished since the foundation of the world.” On the seventh day of creation, God had already set His plan for all of history into motion so there was nothing left for Him to accomplish. God knew people would reject His offer of entering into His rest, and yet He continued to make an appeal to let the people know it wasn’t too late for them to enter His rest. As MacArthur noted, “The opportunity to enter God’s rest remains open. It is not too late.”5

Hebrews 4:7–9: When Joshua entered the Promised Land, he did not ultimately find God’s rest. If that rest had been found at that time God would not have spoken of another day of rest in the future. The rest Israel experienced in the Promised Land was temporary and was meant to point to the ultimate rest that would be given by the High Priest, Jesus, at a later date.

Hebrews 4:10–11: Wiersbe explains that to experience God’s rest we must first experience His salvation rest. Once we have done that we will be free to experience His submission rest.6 As we strive to submit to Him to experience His submission rest, we refuse to “fall into the same pattern of disobedience” (v. 11) that would cut us off from experiencing His rest. The Israelites with Moses, at the time of the Exodus, did not experience God’s rest because they didn’t learn from their disobedience. After they entered the Promised Land the Israelites did not experience God’s rest because they still had not learned from their disobedience. David didn’t truly experience God’s rest because of his disobedience. That’s why the author of Hebrews emphasized that we must “make every effort to enter that rest” (v. 11).

Hebrews 4:12–13: God accomplished the rest that is available to us, but we still have to make an effort to enter into it. John 1:1 and 14 state, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” If we want to experience God’s rest, we’ve got to get to know Jesus. In order to do that, we have to be in Scripture. When we are truly walking with the Lord, we have nothing to hide.

Hebrews 4:14–16: Christ knows every temptation we face, yet did not sin. And we can now approach Him. Because the Word of God does the work of pointing us to salvation rest and submission rest, then we are able to “receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (v. 16). This is a tremendous picture of rest in the Lord.

CLOSING

Because of Christ in our lives, we can approach the throne of God. Christ is the only way to the Father. As we do that, we experience God’s rest.

  1. Thomas Constable, Constable’s Expository (Bible Study Notes): Hebrews, p. 76; available at http://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/hebrews.pdf.

  2. Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament: Hebrews (Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 1989), p. 287.

  3. Wiersbe, p. 287.

  4. Wiersbe, p. 287.

  5. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 1844.

  6. Wiersbe, p. 287.

Questions

  1. “God’s rest” is mentioned several times in Hebrews 4. What kind of rest does it mean? (Exodus 31:17; Psalm 95:11; Matthew 11:29)
  2. Reflect on Hebrews 4:12–13. How does this make you feel? How might the knowledge that God is always watching, lead you to change in your life?
  3. Jesus was tempted in all ways but was without sin. What does this tell you about His obedience to the Father? How can walking in obedience to the will of the Father, help you to not sin?
  4. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Hebrews 4 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Hebrews 4:9–11

“Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.”

Rest in the Lord and receive your promised salvation in Him. As you receive your eternal promise of heaven, the Lord says to cease striving for good works and achievements on this earth. Release yourself from being in charge. Rest in the Him, in His truth, and in His promises. Know that He is God, and trust that victory belongs to Him. He says, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus will give you rest in your present life as you embrace Him completely. As you rest in His Word, allow it to speak life into your spirit and soul.

Nothing is hidden from the Lord. He sees you, and He alone judges your heart. He knows whether or not you have authentically repented and turned to Him. Therefore, admit your weakness, admit your need for a Savior to bear your burdens, and admit you cannot do anything on your own. Picture yourself lying on your back in a field of wildflowers. Rest in God’s goodness every day, and finally, at the end of life, trust you will rest with your Savior forever. Today, come to the Lord, lay your burdens before Him, and you will find rest.

“Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.”

— Hebrews 4:9–11

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 46:10 — “Stop your fighting—and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
  • Matthew 11:28–30 — “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
  • Hebrews 4:12–13 — “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.”