College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 4:6-8
b.
Canaan. Hebrews 4:6-8.
Text
Hebrews 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, Hebrews 4:7 He again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before),
To-day if ye shall hear His voice,
Harden not your hearts.
Hebrews 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 4:6 Seeing, then, after the Israelites were living in Canaan, it still remained for them to enter into God's rest through believing, and seeing they who first received in the wilderness the good tidings of the rest in Canaan did not enter in on account of their unbelief, it follows, that they who receive, or have received the good tidings of the rest in the heavenly country, shall not enter into it if they do not believe.
Hebrews 4:7 Moreover, seeing the Holy Ghost specifieth a particular time for entering in, saying to the people by David, To-day, so long a time after the nation had taken possession of Canaan; as it is written, To-day, when ye shall hear God's voice commanding you to enter into His rest, harden not your hearts against entering.
Hebrews 4:8 For if Joshua, by introducing the Israelites into Canaan, had caused them to rest according to the full meaning of God's promise, the Holy Ghost would not after that, in Divid's time, have spoken of another day for entering into God's rest.
Comment
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto
The King James version says some must enter:
a.
This carries the idea of necessity.
b.
God did not forsake all men, but some did receive the promise, the faithful ones, Joshua and Caleb.
God's promise to Abraham must not fail, so God used the next generation to conquer the land.
and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in
Good news of freedom from bondage, news of prosperity, were all rejected for a discouraging report of ten spies:
a.
Read the good news in Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:17; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 33:3.
b.
How they could turn away from God's providential care seems a mystery to us.
Before we condemn that generation, look at the warnings for our generation:
a.
Acts 20:29-30: speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples.
b.
2 Timothy 3:1-5: form of godliness.
c.
because of disobedience
Faithlessness is an equivalent to disobedience.
Believers need to watch out today:
a.
They can fall away and be lost, or Israel's example means nothing.
b.
If a believer, a Christian, cannot be lost, then Paul wasted much time in this book.
he again
(Psalms 95:7-8 very likely).
The frequency of Old Testament quotations indicates why the gospel was to the Jew first:
a.
The Old Testament was the Word of God, much of it a type of the New Testament, and much of it a lesson.
b.
The Jew had a background which gave him an advantage.
defineth
It is also translated limited:
a.
A certain time in which God's grace will work, for He limits man.
b.
See Genesis 6:3: My spirit will not always strive with man. God is no weakling. He practices longsuffering, but there is a line man cannot cross.
a certain day To-day
When God decides on the day, it will not be tomorrow, but today:
a.
Parents in their weakness say tomorrow, and then forget to discipline tomorrow.
b.
Parents do much threatening which means little but not so with God.
Some feel that this section was David's way of referring back to Moses-' day for a lesson in David's day.
saying in David so long a time afterward
David by the Spirit is warning the people of his own dayliving later by about 500 or 600 years, of the danger of unbelief:
a.
Such a warning is never out of date.
b.
Every generation needs to be warned, for men always err and disobey.
(even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear His voice harden not your hearts
One generation can harden its heart as easily as another. The Christian dispensation is no different than any other, so we must heed this warning.
For if Joshua had given them rest
Joshua in the Greek is Jesus. In Acts 7:45, it is translated Jesus. Both names mean saviour.
The people did enjoy comparative rest. Joshua 1:15: ... until the Lord have given your brethren rest. Joshua 22:4: And now the Lord your God hath given rest. This was not the true rest. God has something better in store for His people.
They to whom David addressed the Psalm were in possession of that land, but they were reminded of the duty of seeking a better rest.
he would not have spoken afterward of another day
Who is he?
a.
If it is Joshua, when did he speak it?
1.
Newell feels it refers to Joshua's farewell address in Joshua 23:1-4, where he tells them to complete the conquest.
2.
It shows the incomplete work of Joshua; more rest was needed.
b.
He must refer to God, who spoke afterward through David, says Milligan.
1.
This is not the best rendering.
2.
The context has shown that Joshua failed, so he had to speak again in his farewell address of rest.
3.
To clinch his argument, David was quoted in Hebrews 4:7.
Study Questions
582.
Is a second rest promised in the days of David correct according to Clarke?
583.
What is implied by the expression, some should enter?
584.
Would God's plan of salvation have failed if all had failed to enter?
585.
What were the good tidings of God? of the ten spies? of Joshua?
586.
What has been the main factor in man's failure in the past to enter into the rest of God?
587.
What verses in the New Testament warn us against similar experiences?
588.
If man, who had received the promise, lost out that day, should we not assume there is danger today?
589.
What actually caused this disobedience?
590.
If man can-'t be lost, what is the purpose of the teaching of this verse?
591.
What other word may be used in place of the word defineth of Hebrews 4:7?
592.
Compare Genesis 6:3 for God's limitation.
593.
What is the significance of this limitation?
594.
Compare Galatians 4:4 with God's limitation of time.
595.
If Moses and David found hardened hearts, is it likely that human nature has changed?
596.
What hardens a heart?
597.
Did Joshua ever promise another rest? Cf. Joshua 1:15; Joshua 22:1-4.
598.
Why is it likely not Jesus who is referred to here?
599.
Why is Joshua also translated Jesus in the footnote?
600.
Why is it likely Joshua is referred to and not David?
601.
Who is referred to by he would not have spoken afterward of another day?
602.
Was Joshua's rest complete? Is this why God declared it again through David in Hebrews 4:7?
603.
If the rest refers to Joshua's farewell words, then why is David quoted in Hebrews 4:7?