Analysis Of The Chapter This chapter Hebrews 4 comprises two parts. In the first Hebrews 4:1, the apostle pursues and completes the exhortation which he had commenced in the previous chapter, drawn from the comparison of the Saviour with Moses (see the analysis of Hebrews 3); and in the second part... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US THEREFORE FEAR - Let us be apprehensive that we may possibly fall of that rest. The kind of “fear” which is recommended here is what leads to caution and care. A man who is in danger of losing his life or health should be watchful; a seaman that is in danger of running on a lee-shore should b... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO US WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED AS WELL AS UNTO THEM - This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE WHICH HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER INTO REST - That is, it is a certain fact that believers “will” enter into rest. That promise is made to “believers;” and as we have evidence that “we” come under the denomination of believers, it will follow that we have the offer of rest as well as they. That th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SPAKE - Genesis 2:2. “And God did rest.” “At the close of the work of creation he rested. The work was done. “That” was the rest of God. He was happy in the contemplation of his own works; and he instituted that day to be observed as a memorial of “his” resting from his works, and as a “type”... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THIS PLACE AGAIN - Psalms 95:11. IF THEY SHALL ENTER - That is, they shall not enter; see the notes at Hebrews 3:11. The object of quoting this here seems to be two-fold: * To show that even in this Psalm God spoke of “his” rest, and said that they should not enter into it; and, (2)It is... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THEREFORE IT REMAINETH THAT SOME MUST ENTER THEREIN - That is, “Since there is a rest spoken of in the Scriptures, implying that it is to be enjoyed by some, and since they to whom it was first promised did not inherit it, it follows that it must still be in reserve.” This is the conclusion w... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, HE LIMITETH - He designates, or definitely mentions. The word rendered “limiteth” - ὁρίζει horizei - means to “bound,” to set a boundary - as of a field or farm; and then to determine or fix definitely, to designate, appoint. Here it means, that he specifies particularly, or mentions expres... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF JESUS - Margin, “That is, Joshua.” The Syriac renders it, “Joshua the son of Nun.” “Jesus” is the Greek mode of writing “Joshua,” and there can be no doubt that Joshua is here intended. The object is to prove that Joshua did” not” give the people of God such a rest as to make it improper to s... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE REMAINETH, THEREFORE, A REST - This is the conclusion to which the apostle comes. The meaning is this, that according to the Scriptures there is “now” a promise of rest made to the people of God. It did not pertain merely to those who were called to go to the promised land, nor to those who li... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT IS ENTERED INTO REST - That is, the man who is so happy as to reach heaven, will enjoy a rest similar to what God had when he finished the work of creation. It will be: (1)A cessation from toil; and, (2)It will be a rest similar to that of God - the same kind of enjoyment, the same fre... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US THEREFORE LABOUR - Let us earnestly strive. Since there is a rest whose attainment is worth all our efforts; since so many have failed of reaching it by their unbelief, and since there is so much danger that we may fail of it also, let us give all diligence that we may enter into it. Heaven i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WORD OF GOD - The design of this and the following verse is obvious. It is to show that we cannot escape the notice of God; that all insincerity, unbelief, hypocrisy, will be detected by him; and that since our hearts are perfectly open before him, we should be sincere and should not attempt... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER IS THERE ANY CREATURE THAT IS NOT MANIFEST IN HIS SIGHT - There is no being who is not wholly known to God. All his thoughts, feelings, plans, are distinctly understood. Of the truth of this there can be no doubt. The “design” of the remark here is, to guard those to whom the apostle was wri... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THEN THAT WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST - The apostle here resumes the subject which had been slightly hinted at in Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:1, and pursues it to the end of Hebrews 10. The “object” is to show that Christians have a great High Priest as really as the Jews had; to show wherein he... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED - Our High Priest is not cold and unfeeling. That is, we have one who is abundantly qualified to sympathize with us in our afflictions, and to whom, therefore, we may look for aid and support in trials. Had we a high priest who was cold and hear... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE - “The throne of grace!” What a beautiful expression. A throne is the seat of a sovereign; a throne of grace is designed to represent a sovereign seated to dispense mercy and pardon. The illustration or comparison here may have been derived from... [ Continue Reading ]