Hebrews 4:6-10

 

Heb 4:6 (KJB)

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

 

Preached - Proclaim or announce good news

Unbelief - Disobedience or willful unbelief

 

The verse is teaching us that the rest of God is still open to those who become saved and he is comparing it to the situation in the wilderness wanderings of Israel. They did not trust God to take care of their needs or to remove the inhabitants out of the promised land. Therefore because of their unbelief and disobedience, they were disallowed from entering into the promised land. (Heb 3:19 KJV) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. This verse parallels the gospel being preached to the present Hebrew readers of this Gospel and their ancestors in the wilderness wandering.

 

Heb 4:7 (KJB)

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.

 

He limiteth - To appoint, determine or designate

 

Here the writer quotes David in the 95^th Psalm. Teaching that the day of salvation is still here but God has appointed or designated that God has determined a cut off when salvation will no longer be available. Those who harden their hearts too long may just harden them to the point of the day the Lord returns and then the day of salvation will be over. This is why the verse teaches us that time is critical by using the term “To day” because tomorrow is never promised plus the heart becomes more hardened by one day and that one day continues on. The word “saying” is in the present tense which means that what is being proclaimed in this verse is always applicable but there will come a day when God is going to cut off the day of salvation. (Acts 17:31 KJV) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. We do not know what day that is but if a person continues to harden their heart, they may remain hard until time is no more. (Rev 10:6 KJV) And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: This is why it is dangerous for someone to think that they have so much time when in essence it will come to an abrupt end.

 

Heb 4:8 (KJB)

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

 

Jesus - Joshua

 

Those who entered into the land of Canaan with Joshua did not have the true eternal rest. In fact, even while Israel was in the promised land they were troubled by the pagan people which still lived there. (Num 33:55 KJV) But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. In Numbers 33:55 God had already warned them that if they did not drive out the Canaanites from the land, they would be as thorns in their sides, that is, they would have no peace because of these pagans. So even in the promised land there was only brief periods of peace but never an enduring peace. We read in Hebrews 4:8 of another day and that day is the day of Grace whereby people become saved and will have an enduring peace. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who gives eternal peace through the Gospel and no false doctrine or religion can ever move His children. (Mark 16:18 KJV) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:18 speaks about drinking any deadly thing. This has nothing to do with drinking poison and not being affected by or even killed by it. It speaks of a Christian hearing a false gospel and realizing it is a false Gospel by the testimony of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even if a Christian hears a false Gospel, they will not go after it. If a person claims to be a Christian and departs after a false Gospel, then it is obvious that they were never saved to begin with.

 

Heb 4:9 (KJB)

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

 

The writer concludes with great confidence, based upon what he has just written that those who are truly saved will have an eternal rest. The term “people of God” denotes those who are truly saved through the Lord Jesus Christ and not through a political race such as Israel. (1 Pet 2:10 KJV) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Peter understood this and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that once many people, both Jews and Gentiles, were not a people of God but because of Calvary, those who have become saved are now “the people of God.” If you notice the Bible uses the direct article “the” denoting that those in Christ are the only people of God and there are no others. The people of God are brought together under one umbrella and that is Christ. There are some who want to make the unsaved Jews God’s chosen people but that is impossible because God has no unbelievers in His kingdom. All those in the Kingdom of God have come through the Lord Jesus Christ and there is no other way. (John 10:16 KJV) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (Ezek 37:24 KJV) And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. Notice the similarity between John 10:16 and Ezekiel 37:24 as both proclaim that the people of God will have one shepherd and that shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:23 KJV) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:23 could not be any more clearer, those who deny the Son do not have the Father either. It is through the cross and not around it and God is no respecter of persons.

 

Heb 4:10 (KJB)

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

 

Here is a great parallel. God rested from His work of creation on the seventh day but after the world and universe were created, he did not cease all of His works. He sustains the creation and takes an active part in the human race, as he did in sending His Son to die for the Elect. So what God did rest from was the initial works in creating the world but after that came other works. The believer is in a similar situation. Once we become saved we no longer work for our salvation because it has been supplied for us and once we become saved, then we continue to do good works pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Eph 2:10 KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 states that the believer is created in the Lord Jesus Christ unto good works, which God has already prepared for us. He saved us, sanctified us, empowered us, and prepared our works or ministry. So our focus now is on the present ministry God has prepared for us and never do we look to add to our salvation by some type of works.

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