Chapter 4
Faith is Necessary to Enter the Eternal Rest
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
The Israelites were punished because they didn’t trust in the power of God to conquer the peoples in the Promised Land of Canaan. Those living at that time never received God’s “rest” of that land because they died in the wilderness as punishment from God. The only way for people to enter into God’s eternal “rest” in heaven is to believe the gospel or good news about Jesus Christ. Specifically, who He is and what He did.
God’s Plan
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
God’s plan for the salvation of humanity was finished before the foundation of world. God established for Israel the seventh day of rest or Sabbath as He rested on the seventh day from His creative work. Because of the Israelites’ lack of faith to enter the Promise Land, God declared that He would not give them rest in the land. Some will enter that eternal rest but many will not because of their unbelief just like the Israelites who didn’t trust God to go into the Promised Land.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Let us therefore listen to Jesus Christ through His Word, the Bible, and not harden our hearts like the Israelites did when they came out of Egypt in the Exodus. Christians have entered into an eternal rest because they have been saved, not by their works, but by the grace and mercy of God. Still, we must seek to serve the Lord daily as we worship and serve Him and others. Today is the day of salvation!
The Word Is Powerful
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
The author warns his readers to be careful to enter the eternal rest through faith in Jesus Christ or face certain judgment. The Bible is powerful and is like a spiritual sword which can cut through our hearts and minds. God is all-knowing and nothing we do escapes His full and complete knowledge. We may think we can hide from God, but He knows everything we do and even all our thoughts. We must all stand before Christ on Judgment Day and give an account of the things we have done in our lives, both good and bad. Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God.
Jesus Was Tempted Like Us but Never Sinned
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus Christ, as our great High Priest, passed through heaven after His resurrection. He will also pass through heaven again when he returns to earth to gather together His elect (Matt. 24:31). This should be an encouragement to all His followers to “hold fast” or be strong in our faith in the face of adversity. Our High Priest understands us and what we go through because He was tempted just like us yet never sinned. Since Jesus has qualified as our High Priest we can come with confidence to Him in prayer to receive mercy and grace from Him in our times of great need.