Hebrews 4:11

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. LET US ... THEREFORE - seeing such a promise is before us. LABOUR, [ spoudasoomen (G4704)] - 'strive diligently.' THAT REST - still future and so glorious. Or (cf. Hebrews 4:10), 'that rest into which Christ has entered before' (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 6:20). FALL - with the soul; not merely the body, as the rebel Israelites fell (Hebrews 3:17...

Having pointed out the goal to which we are to advance, he exhorts us to pursue our course, which we do, when we habituate ourselves to self­denial. And as he compares entering into rest to a straight course, he sets falling in opposition to it, and thus he continues the metaphor in both clauses, at the same time he alludes to the history given by Moses of those who fell in the wilderness, because they were rebellious against God. (Numbers 26:65.) Hence he says, _after the same example, _signifying as though the punishment for unbelief and obstinacy is there set before us as in a picture; nor is there indeed a doubt but that a similar end awaits us, if there be found in us the same unbelief. Then, “to fall” means to perish; or to speak more plainly, it is to fall, not as to sin, but as a punishment for it. But the figure corresponds as well with the word to “enter”, as with the sad overt...

11-16 Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully. It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to. The word will show the sinner...

Verse Hebrews 4:11. _LET US LABOUR THEREFORE_] The word σπουδασωμεν implies every _exertion_ of _body_ and _mind_ which can be made in reference to the subject. _Rebus aliis omissis, hoc agamus_; All things else omitted, this one thing let us do. We receive grace, improve grace, retain grace, that we may obtain eternal glory. _LEST ANY MAN FALL_] Lest he fall off from the grace of God, from the Gospel and its blessings, and perish everlastingly. This is the meaning of the apostle, who never supposed that a man might not make final shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience, as long as he was in a state of _probation_....

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 is never obtained but by diligence; and no one enters there who does not earnestly desire it, and who does not make a sincere effort to reach it. OF UNBELIEF - Margin, “disobedience.” The word “unbelief” best expresses the sense, as the apostle was showing that this was the principal thing that prevented people from entering into heaven; see the notes at Hebrews 3:12....

EXPOSITION A REST STILL OFFERED TO CHRISTIANS. HEBREWS 4:1 LET US FEAR, THEREFORE, LEST, A PROMISE BEING STILL LEFT OF ENTERING INTO HIS REST, ANY ONE OF YOU SHOULD SEEM TO HAVE COME SHORT. This verse is a renewed warning against remissness, based (as is shown by the connecting οὖν) on the preceding argument, but introducing also, by means of the clause, καταλειπομένης, etc., a new thought, the elucidation of which is the subject of what follows. The new thought is that the true "rest of God," typified only by the rest of Canaan, remains still for the attainment of Christians. That this is the ease has not yet been shown; and hence the clause, "a promise being still left." etc., does not point to a conclusion already arrived at, but to what is com

LET US LABOUR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST,.... Not eternal rest; this is not to be entered into now; nor is an entrance into it to be obtained by labour; salvation is not by works; eternal life is a free gift; good works do not go before to prepare heaven for the saints, but follow after: nor is the saints' entrance into it a precarious thing; God has promised it, and provided it for his people; Christ is in the possession of it, and is preparing it for them; and the Spirit of God is working them up for the self same thing, and Christ will give them an abundant entrance into it: but the Gospel rest is here meant, that rest which believers now enter into, and is at this present time for them, Hebrews 4:3 and though true believers are entered into it, yet their rest, peace, and joy in Christ, is not full; they enter by degrees into it, and by believing enjoy more of it: and this is t...

Hebrews 4:1. _Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it._ Not only dread coming short, but dread the very appearance of it. Oh, that we might now enter into that rest, and so clearly enjoy it that there should not even be a seeming to come short of it. Hebrews 4:2. _For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it._ They were not united to it by faith; consequently, as they did not receive the Word, it was taken away from them. Hebrews 4:3. _For we which have believed do enter into rest._...

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. What the rest of God is (Hebrews 4:1)_ 2. The power of the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you might seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” These words of exhortation belong properly to the preceding chapter. What is the rest of which these verses speak? It is generally explained as the rest which the true believer finds and has in the Lord Jesus Christ in believing; that his conscience has rest. It is frequently identified with...

HEBREWS 4:1 continues the exposition of Psalms 95. The writer has already dealt with the warning contained therein; now he shows that this very warning implies a promise. In declaring that His rest is withheld from those who had proved unworthy of it, God would have us know that it is still in store. The fulfilment of that promise which had been offered in vain to ancient Israel is reserved for the people of Christ. HEBREWS 4:1 F. Transition from warning to promise. The warning of the psalm is one that directly concerns ourselves, for, since the Israelites under Moses were forbidden to enter into the promised rest, it is still waiting, and we Christians may possess it, if we do not fail as they did. The message which came to them has come also to us. They heard it, but missed the blessing which it