Hebrews 4:9-11

Pursuing God's Rest

Then, over and above the types of rest found under the old covenant, there remains a promise of God's rest for those who are obedient (Hebrews 4:9-10). This rest was spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, and is, indeed, the reason Christ came to earth. The rest has been entered into by some and those who enter do not have to worry with the labor and cares of this world any more. The idea is a rest at the completion of one's life work (2 Timothy 4:6-8.) Lightfoot writes, "As God in the beginning entered his sabbath, they too will enter theirs--'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them'" (Revelation 14:13).

Since we know the rest does await us, we ought to work diligently to obtain it (Hebrews 4:11; 2 Peter 1:10.) The writer urged his readers to be diligent in their pursuit of the promised rest. In using the word translated “diligent,” he was describing a hastening to do a thing and a use of all of one's might. If we fail to give our all to attain the goal, we have the bad example of the Israelites which shows us we will fall.