Hebrews 4:3

3 We who believe, then, do receive that rest which God promised. It is just as he said, ¹ "I was angry and made a solemn promise: "They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!' " He said this even though his work had been finished from the time he created the world.

Hebrews 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 4:3

For we which have believed do enter into rest
Not eternal rest; all believers shall enjoy this, and they only; but this is not now, or at present enjoyed, unless things future may be said to be present, because of faith in them, and the certainty of them but spiritual rest in Christ under the Gospel dispensation, which is a rest from the burden of the law of Moses, and from all toil and labour for life, and salvation by works, and lies in an enjoyment of much inward peace of soul, notwithstanding the world's troubles and Satan's temptations; and such who believe the word or Gospel preached, and Christ in it, not with a general and historical high, or only in profession, but with the heart, and in truth, these enjoy this rest; they are kept in perfect peace, and have much spiritual ease and comfort: this character distinguishes them from the unbelieving Israelites of old, and from present hypocrites and formal professors:

as he said, as I have sworn in wrath, if they shall enter into my rest;
the words are in ( Psalms 95:11 ) , and are before cited in ( Hebrews 3:11 ) (See Gill on Hebrews 3:11): they entered not in because of unbelief; none but believers enter into spiritual rest. The apostle applies this proof to his design, by removing all other rests, and particularly by showing that does not mean God's rest from the works of creation:

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world;
that is, though the works of creation, that God designed to make, were finished and perfected within the first six days of the world, and then God rested, or ceased to work in a creative way; yet this is not the rest designed in the passage of Scripture cited, nor is it that rest which believers enter into.

Hebrews 4:3 In-Context

1 Now, God has offered us the promise that we may receive that rest he spoke about. Let us take care, then, that none of you will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest.

2 For we have heard the Good News, just as they did. They heard the message, but it did them no good, because when they heard it, they did not accept it with faith.

3 We who believe, then, do receive that rest which God promised. It is just as he said, "I was angry and made a solemn promise: "They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!' " He said this even though his work had been finished from the time he created the world.

4 For somewhere in the Scriptures this is said about the seventh day: "God rested on the seventh day from all his work."

5 This same matter is spoken of again: "They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest."

Cross References

• 1. 4.3Psalms 95.11.