October
30th
Hebrews 4
1:
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into
his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2: For unto us
was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached
did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it. 3: For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As
I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although
the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4: For he
spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did
rest the seventh day from all his works. 5: And in this place again,
If they shall enter into my rest. 6: Seeing therefore it remaineth
that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached
entered not in because of unbelief: 7: Again, he limiteth a certain
day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To
day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8: For if
Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of
another day. 9: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of
God. 10: For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as God did from his. 11: Let us labour therefore
to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief. 12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13: Neither is there any
creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked
and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Superior
to the old Priesthood
14:
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin. 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.
Even
now we see that this letter is not written to Christians as the other
letters are but to Hebrews who have heard of Christ, saw his
Messianic signs - heard the Apostles, yet they still teeter on the
brink of rebellion as the generation did in the wilderness. It’s
interesting that the Children of Israel marched for 40 years in the
desert and the gospel of repentance went out for 40 years starting
with the preaching of John and finishing at the judgement of God in
AD70. The writer to the Hebrews says let us have a godly fear that
leads to repentance, because if not, then the promise of entering
into the rest (of the Kingdom) some of you will miss. The gospel was
preached to us as well as Israel in the wilderness but the gospel had
no effect on them because it was not joined to faith in those who
heard it. Those of us who do believe in Christ do enter into rest.
God has sworn an oath that they will never enter into the rest. (This
explains the significance of Christ’s call on the last great day of
the feast when he said, ‘Come unto me all you that labour and are
heavy laden l and l will give you rest.) This was established before
the foundation of the world. God said that He rested on the seventh
day from all his works. Their must be some remaining that will enter
into the rest And we know that those who first heard this call did
not enter into the rest because of unbelief. David said, Today, after
such a long time - today, If you will hear his voice do not harden
your hearts. (We see the significance of Christ’s words to Israel
after the Parable of the Sower. He that has ears let him hear) If
Jesus had given them rest then there would be no need to say that
there will come a day when they will enter rest. However there still
today remains a rest for the children of Israel. The man who rests
ceases to work, as God rested from his work. So then, you Hebrews,
says the writer, work hard to enter into the rest that Christ gives
and do not fall away like your fathers in the wilderness did. The
Message of God is alive and mighty making itself known in the world
and able to cut both to save and to destroy and cutting through to
the your innermost being. It is able to judge the thoughts and
motives of the mind. There is no creature on the earth that is not
made clear to his sight. Everything is naked and open to the eyes of
the God, who we are to obliged to obey. Our Great High Priest has
passed into the heavens (The writer contrasts Christ to the Old
Levitical Priests.) Christ is our ideal priest. He is the Saviour -
the Son of God. So let us hold on to our confession of Jesus as the
Messiah. Our High Priest is touched by the feelings of our
weaknesses. He has stood where we stood. And he was tempted in all
the ways that we are tempted yet he did not sin. So let us draw near
with courage to the throne of grace that we may obtain restraint in
the judgment of God and find overflowing kindness to us the
undeserved to help us in times of need.
- What does the writer say that those who are the readers might fail to do?
- What is 'The Rest' that the writer is constantly referring to?
- What does the writer mean by 'labour to enter into this rest'?
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