Hebrews 4:8-16

8 For if Jesus had brought them into rest, he would not have spoken afterwards about another day.

9 There remains then a sabbatism to the people of God.

10 For he that has entered into his rest, he also has rested from his works, as God did from his own.

11 Let us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest, that no one may fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word.

12 For the word of God [is] living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to [the] division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of [the] heart.

13 And there is not a creature unapparent before him; but all things [are] naked and laid bare to his eyes, with whom we have to do.

14 Having therefore a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession.

15 For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart.

16 Let us approach therefore with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.

Hebrews 4:8-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 4

From the punishment inflicted on the unbelieving Hebrews, who died in the wilderness, and entered not into the land of rest made mention of in the preceding chapter, the apostle proceeds to caution the present Hebrews of his time, and who professed faith in Christ, lest seeing there was a rest, and a promise of entering into it, they should seem to come short of it, Heb 4:1, and the rather, since they that fell in the wilderness had the Gospel preached to them as well as they; and the reason why it did not profit was, because it was not received by faith, Heb 4:2 as also seeing it is by faith that believers now enter into rest, Heb 4:3 which rest is not the rest of the seventh day, on which God rested; nor, the rest of the land of Canaan, which Joshua led the Israelites into; for if he had entered them into the rest the apostle means, David, so many hundred years after him, would not have made mention of another rest, Heb 4:4-8 wherefore it follows that there is another rest for the people of God, which he that enters into ceases from his own works, as God did from his, Heb 4:9,10 and this is the rest that everyone that professes faith in Christ, should be solicitous and diligent to enter into, lest he should fall short of it through unbelief; as the unbelieving Israelites did of their rest, Heb 4:11 and the arguments engaging to such a concern are taken from the properties and perfections of Christ, the essential Word of God; particularly from his omnipotence and his omniscience, Heb 4:12,13. And seeing he is by nature the Son of God, and by office a great high priest that is entered into heaven for his people, the encouragement is great to hold fast the profession of faith in him they have made, Heb 4:14 and the rather since he is a sympathizing high priest, as he must needs be, since he has been tempted, afflicted, and has suffered every way as his people, and is in all respects like them, excepting that he has no sin, Heb 4:15 and this consideration should engage believers to come to the throne of grace with all boldness, and in expectation of having grace and mercy bestowed on them for the supply of their daily wants, Heb 4:16.

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek for Joshua: see Note, Num. 13.16.
• [b]. Aorists: i.e. 'be in a state of having done it.'
• [c]. See Note, ch. 3.18.
• [d]. The passage has, I judge, the sense of dividing between each pair of objects and not of dividing each of the things by itself.
• [e]. Or 'according to [our] likeness,' which has substantially the same sense, 'according to the likeness of the way in which we are tempted.'