This verse teaches the important truth that, though heaven is offered to us, and that a “rest” is promised to us if we seek it, yet that there is reason to think that many may fail of reaching it who had expected to obtain it. Sad to say, it can also happen to Christians. hustereo. . Φοβηθῶμεν οὖν] Let us therefore be apprehensive. Future (eschatological) enjoyment of all that God wants us to enjoy (i.e, our full inheritance), 4. So a person who enjoys this rest of faith rests in the security of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, and as a partaker of Christ, will have peace, and joy, and rest, and confidence, and certainty (e.g. and to be disappointed of that rest and peace promised in it. This quotation confirms the first clause of the verse, because it proves two things: first, that God had a rest, and second, that He intended that man should rest with Him, because it was “in His wrath,” justly excited against the unbelieving (cf.Hebrews 3:9-10), that He sware they should not enter in. Crossing the Jordan marked the beginning of God"s testing of the new Israelite generation. see the Phaedo, p. 95A. they should do, for the glory of God, the honour of Christ and φοβέω Phobeo ... Devotionals about Hebrews 4:1 . Each succeeding generation throughout the history of Israel faced its own tests. Let us therefore fear, &c.— The promise of God's rest, signifies such a rest as his is; namely, a state of peace and enjoyment, and freedom from labour. promise of it, intend the Gospel and its dispensation, the Matthew 25:14-30). Usage. We must believe if we want to enter (2-3) III. privileges and ordinances; and this is God's rest, which he has These terms refer to blessings that God"s people could anticipate in the next stage of their lives if they followed Him faithfully in the present stage of their lives. While I no longer see Hebrews 4:8-10 as a proof text for the Sabbath, the message of Hebrews 4 has become laden with a deeper meaning for the seventh-day Sabbath. In Hebrews 4:1, the author states that the promise of entering God’s rest still stands. Let us therefore fear - not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). See, for example, Psalms 116:7, where it resulted from His saving activity; Psalms 132:14 where the psalmist desired to rest in God’s presence; Isaiah 28:12, where it was offered to God’s professing people, and they rejected it; Isaiah 30:15, where it spoke of an attitude of heart required of God’s people, which they again rejected; Isaiah 32:17-18, where it was to be a part of a life of confidence, quietness and peace, the result of the pouring out of the Spirit from above; and Ezekiel 38:11, where it spoke of the assured confidence and blessing of God’s people who rest securely in Him and under His protection so that no other is needed. This view seems unlikely because of how the writer equated rest and inheritance after the pattern of Old Testament usage, namely, as a future possession. afflictions, from Satan's temptations, from unbelief, doubts, and Should be judged to have fallen short. Hebrews 4:1–2 functions as transition and summary of 3:7–19 and 4:3–13. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Crossing the Jordan marked the beginning of God"s testing of the new Israelite generation. Each succeeding generation throughout the history of Israel faced its own tests. The point is not that they cease doing anything, but that they are able to rest from the particular labour in view, that of striving to build up righteousness in order to be saved (they cease from dead works which produce death - Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 9:14), entering rather, as those who are saved by Him, into joyful service which is no labour. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Apparently some of the original readers had doubts because the Lord had not yet returned. The writer himself could have done this. The Book of Hebrews begins with the declaration that while God has spoken in various ways through the Old Testament prophets, He has now spoken fully and finally in His Son (Hebrews 1:1-4). They were not to be bound up in meritorious works. Most of our earlier versions (following Luther and Erasmus) give to this clause a different turn, which cannot be correct: “Lest any of you by forsaking the promise of entering in His rest.”. The generation of Israelites that crossed the Jordan with Joshua only entered into partial rest in the land due to their failure to trust and obey God completely. And all such have boldness and access with confidence into the presence of God through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12). He admonishes all of his congregation, "let us fear" with a Godly fear to enter into God's rest. The argument of the passage favours the third reading, for it aims at strengthening the belief that the promise does remain and that the readers are not born too late to enjoy it. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. [2] For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. His rest; God’s rest provided for his people. Israel failed because they did not accept what they heard in faith.Therefore they did not submit in obedience to God.They never came to love Him or to know Him. short of it. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The author of the book of Hebrews has a pastor's heart. that of υἱός, in the peculiar and individual sense of the citation there. Throughout this epistle the writer used the terms "rest" and "inheritance" as the Old Testament used them when speaking of what the Israelites in the wilderness anticipated. For the Israelites in the wilderness, this meant enjoying the peace and prosperity of the Promised Land to the full. Hebrews 1:4 - having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. Hebrews 4:1. , “let us then fear,” the writer speaks in the name of the living generation, “lest haply, there being left behind and still remaining a promise to enter [ ; cf. 2. Proud member Should think that he has fallen short or come too late. Hebrews 4:12. ‘Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.’. ана с Пс. This chapter refers to Joshua, who eventually led Israel into Canaan. New Living Translation. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. on StudyLight.org. [Note: Gleason, p297.] Rest. 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