Hebrews 4:3
Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: "So I swore on oath in My anger, 'They shall never enter My rest.'" And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
Now we who have believed
This phrase emphasizes the condition of faith as a prerequisite for entering God's rest. The Greek word for "believed" is "πιστεύσαντες" (pisteusantes), which implies a continuous and active trust in God. In the historical context of the early church, this belief was not merely intellectual assent but a deep, transformative faith that aligned with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The early Christians, many of whom were Jewish converts, understood belief as a commitment that involved both heart and mind, leading to a new way of life.

enter that rest
The concept of "rest" here is deeply rooted in the Jewish understanding of the Sabbath and the Promised Land. The Greek word "κατάπαυσιν" (katapausin) refers to a cessation from labor, echoing God's rest on the seventh day of creation. Historically, this rest was symbolized by the Israelites entering Canaan, but the author of Hebrews expands it to mean a spiritual rest available to believers through faith in Christ. This rest is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who trust in Jesus, offering peace and assurance amidst life's struggles.

just as God has said
This phrase underscores the reliability and authority of God's word. The author of Hebrews frequently quotes the Old Testament to demonstrate the continuity of God's plan. Here, the reference is likely to Psalm 95, which warns against unbelief and disobedience. The historical context shows that God's promises are trustworthy, and His declarations are fulfilled in Christ. For the early Christians, this was a powerful reminder that God's word is unchanging and dependable.

So I swore on oath in My anger
This part of the verse reflects God's response to the Israelites' disobedience in the wilderness, as recorded in Psalm 95:11. The Greek word for "swore" is "ὤμοσα" (ōmosa), indicating a solemn and binding promise. God's "anger" (Greek: "ὀργῇ," orgē) is not capricious but a righteous response to persistent unbelief and rebellion. For the original audience, this served as a sobering reminder of the consequences of hardening one's heart against God.

‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
This quotation from Psalm 95:11 serves as a warning and a call to faithfulness. The phrase "shall never enter" (Greek: "εἰσελεύσονται," eiseleusontai) is emphatic, highlighting the finality of God's judgment on those who persist in unbelief. Historically, this was a reference to the generation of Israelites who perished in the wilderness. For the early church, it was a caution against falling away from the faith. The "rest" of God is a profound spiritual reality, symbolizing eternal life and communion with Him, accessible through faith in Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Believers
Those who have faith in Jesus Christ and are promised rest.

2. God
The divine being who offers rest and swore an oath regarding His rest.

3. The Israelites
The people who, due to unbelief, were denied entry into God's rest.

4. Creation
The event referenced as the time when God's works were finished.

5. Promised Rest
The spiritual rest offered to believers, symbolized by the rest God took after creation.
Teaching Points
Faith as the Key to Rest
Belief in Christ is essential to entering God's rest. Just as the Israelites' unbelief barred them from the Promised Land, so too does unbelief prevent us from experiencing spiritual rest.

Understanding God's Rest
God's rest is not merely physical but spiritual, symbolizing peace and fulfillment in Him. It is a rest that believers can experience now and fully in eternity.

The Finished Work of God
God's works were completed at creation, indicating that His rest is available and has been since the foundation of the world. This underscores the sufficiency and completeness of God's provision.

The Danger of Unbelief
The warning against unbelief is a call to examine our hearts and ensure that we are living in faith, not just in word but in action and trust.

Living in the Promise
As believers, we are called to live in the reality of God's promises, experiencing His rest through faith and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of rest in Hebrews 4:3 compare to the rest God took after creation, and what does this mean for us today?

2. In what ways can unbelief manifest in our lives, and how can we guard against it to ensure we enter God's rest?

3. How does Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 relate to the rest mentioned in Hebrews 4:3, and how can we apply this to our daily lives?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's rest. What were the circumstances, and how did your faith play a role?

5. How can the account of the Israelites' unbelief in Numbers 14 serve as a warning and encouragement in your spiritual journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 95
This Psalm is quoted in Hebrews 4:3, emphasizing the warning against hardening hearts and missing God's rest.

Genesis 2:2
Relates to God's rest after creation, providing a model for the rest promised to believers.

Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus invites those who are weary to find rest in Him, connecting to the rest mentioned in Hebrews.

Numbers 14
Describes the Israelites' unbelief and God's oath that they would not enter the Promised Land, paralleling the warning in Hebrews.

Hebrews 3:12-19
Discusses the unbelief of the Israelites and serves as a cautionary tale for believers.
Rest a Present Possession of the Christian BelieverW. Jones Hebrews 4:3
The More Terrible Result of Apostasy from Christ Seen in the Better Rest to Which Christ LeadsC. New Hebrews 4:1-11
A Delicious ExperienceIbid.Hebrews 4:3-6
Faith and RestS. Coley.Hebrews 4:3-6
Perfect RestHebrews 4:3-6
RestC. H. Spurgeon.Hebrews 4:3-6
Rest for the TrueHomilistHebrews 4:3-6
Rest in GodT. R. Stevenson.Hebrews 4:3-6
Sabbath DaysHebrews 4:3-6
The Christian's RestProf. Archer Butler.Hebrews 4:3-6
The Distinguishing Characters of True BelieversHebrews 4:3-6
The Rest of GodJ. Bannerman, D. D.Hebrews 4:3-6
The Rest of God and of ManA. Maclaren, D. D.Hebrews 4:3-6
The Rest of God's PeopleHomilistHebrews 4:3-6
The State of Believers Under the GospelJohn Owen, . D. D.Hebrews 4:3-6
Why God RestedR. W. Dale, LL. D.Hebrews 4:3-6
The Course of Christian Effort is Justified by the Certainty of a Future RestJ.S. Bright Hebrews 4:3-10
People
David, Hebrews, Joshua
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Admitted, Although, Anger, Angry, Belief, Believe, Believed, Completed, Creation, Declared, Enter, Finished, Foundation, God's, Making, Oath, Rest, Sware, Swore, Sworn, Though, Works, Wrath, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hebrews 4:3

     4006   creation, origin
     4915   completion
     5048   opportunities, and salvation
     8321   perfection, divine
     9414   heaven, community of redeemed

Hebrews 4:1-5

     5537   sleeplessness

Hebrews 4:1-11

     5059   rest, eternal

Hebrews 4:3-4

     4975   week

Hebrews 4:3-6

     1680   types

Library
February 22. "He that Hath Entered into his Rest Hath Ceased from his Own Works Even as God did from His" (Heb. Iv. 10).
"He that hath entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works even as God did from His" (Heb. iv. 10). What a rest it would be to many of us if we could but exchange burdens with Christ, and so utterly and forever transfer to Him all our cares and needs that we would not feel henceforth responsible for our burdens, but know that He has undertaken all the care, and that our faith is simply to carry His burdens, and that He prays, labors, and suffers only for us and our interests. This is what
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 18. "All Things are Naked and Open unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to Do" (Heb. Iv. 13).
"All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. iv. 13). The literal translation of this phrase is, all things are stripped and stunned. This is the force of the Greek words. The figure is that of an athlete in the Coliseum who has fought his best in the arena, and has at length fallen at the feet of his adversary, disarmed and broken down in helplessness. There he lies, unable to strike a blow, or lift his arm. He is stripped and stunned, disarmed and disabled,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 23. "An High Priest Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"An high priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some time ago we were talking with a greatly suffering sister about healing, who was much burdened physically and desirous of being able to trust the Lord for deliverance. After a little conversation we prayed with her, committing her case to the Lord for absolute trust and deliverance as she was prepared to claim. As soon as we closed our prayer she grasped our hand, and asked us to unite with her in the burden that was
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 22. "Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some of us know a little what it is to be thrilled with a sense of the sufferings of others, and sometimes, the sins of others, and sins that seem to saturate us as they come in contact with us, and throw over us an awful sense of sin and need. This is, perhaps, intended to give us some faint conception of the sympathy that Jesus felt when He had taken our sins, our sicknesses and our sorrows. Let us not hesitate to lay them on Him! It
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Throne of Grace
In order to such prayer, the work of the Holy Ghost himself is needed. If prayer were of the lips alone, we should only need breath in our nostrils to pray: if prayer were of the desires alone, many excellent desires are easily felt, even by natural men: but when it is the spiritual desire, and the spiritual fellowship of the human spirit with the Great Spirit, then the Holy Ghost himself must be present all through it, to help infirmity, and give life and power, or else true prayer will never be
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Heavenly Rest
"My rest," says God: the rest of God! Something more wonderful than any other kind of rest. In my text it is (in the original) called the Sabbatism--not the Sabbath, but the rest of the Sabbath--not the outward ritual of the Sabbath, which was binding upon the Jew, but the inward spirit of the sabbath, which is the joy and delight of the Christian. "There remaineth therefore"--because others have not had it, because some are to have it--"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Now,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

How Should we Make Use of Christ, in Going to the Father, in Prayer, and Other Acts of Worship?
In short, for answering of this question, I shall lay down those particulars: 1. There should be a lively sense of the infinite distance that is between the great God and us finite creatures, and yet more betwixt the Holy Ghost and us sinful wretches. 2. There should be an eyeing of Christ as the great peacemaker, through his death and merits having satisfied justice and reconciled sinners unto God; that so we may look on God now no more as an enemy, but as reconciled in Jesus. 3. There should be,
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Entrance into Rest.
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. Hebrews 4:11.--Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. I want, in the simplest way possible, to answer the question: "How does a man enter into that rest?" and to point out the simple steps that he takes, all included in the one act of surrender and faith. And the first step, I think, is this: that a
Andrew Murray—The Master's Indwelling

What Now is Become of this True Church, or Where must the Man Go...
What now is become of this true church, or where must the man go, who would fain be a living member of it? He need go nowhere; because wherever he is, that which is to save him, and that which he is to be saved from, is always with him. SELF is all the evil that he has, and God is all the goodness that he ever can have; but self is always with him, and God is always with him. Death to self is his only entrance into the church of life, and nothing but God can give death to self. Self is an inward
William Law—An Humble, Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy

To-Morrow
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."--Heb. iv. 9. J. S. Kunth, 1700. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 There is a Day of rest before thee-- Thou weary soul, arise and shine. Awhile the clouds hung darkly o'er thee, Awhile the captive's chains were thine. Behold, the Lamb of God will lead thee To still green pastures round the throne; Cast off thy burden, rise and speed thee, For soon the battle storm is done-- For soon the weary race is past, And thou shalt rest in Love at last.
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

The Sabbath Year
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 10 Oft comes to me a blessed hour, A wondrous hour and still-- With empty hands I lay me down, No more to work or will. An hour when weary thought has ceased, The eyes are closed in rest; And, hushed in Heaven's untroubled peace, I lie upon Thy breast. Erewile I reasoned of Thy truth, I searched with toil and care; From morn to night I tilled my field, And yet my field was bare. Now, fed with corn from fields of Heaven The fruit of Hands Divine, I pray no prayer,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Whiter than Snow
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 14 To heart and soul how sweet Thou art, O great High Priest of God! My heart brought nigh to God's own heart By Thy most precious blood. No more my countless sins shall rise To fill me with dismay-- That precious blood before His eyes Hath put them all away. My soul draws near with trust secure, With boldness glad and free; What matters it that I am poor, For I am rich in Thee. Forgotten every stain and spot, Their memory past and gone, For me, O God, Thou seest
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Old-Testament Gospel Heb 4:02

John Newton—Olney Hymns

John Newton the Word Quick and Powerful. Heb 4:12,13

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Statement of Faith.
1. We believe in one Unbegotten [428] God, Father Almighty, maker of all things both visible and invisible, that hath His being from Himself. And in one Only-begotten Word, Wisdom, Son, begotten of the Father without beginning and eternally; word not pronounced [429] nor mental, nor an effluence [430] of the Perfect, nor a dividing of the impassible Essence, nor an issue [431] ; but absolutely perfect Son, living and powerful (Heb. iv. 12), the true Image of the Father, equal in honour and glory.
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Power of God's Word to Convict Men of Sin.
In Hebrews 4:12 we have a Scripture which draws attention to this peculiar characteristic of the Bible--"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, andis a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The writings of men may sometimes stir the emotions, search the conscience, and influence the human will, but in a manner and degree possessed by no other book the Bible
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Great High-Priest.
"Having then a great High-priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. For every high-priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Rest
THE Master had much to say to his beloved children about this festival of God. It was of this that he delighted to tell them. Whilst the pestilence, and the war, and the persecution of Rome, were desolating the city, Master Tauler dwelt in the gladness of the bridal chamber, and told to the weary and sorrowful around him, the things that he had seen and heard. And thus it came to pass that many entered in, and found themselves in that inner chamber of rest, and peace, and joy, and to them "the curse
Frances Bevan—Three Friends of God

Our Compassionate High Priest
"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."--Hebrews 5:2 The high priest looked Godward, and therefore he had need to be holy; for he had to deal with things pertaining to God. But at the same time he looked manward; it was for men that he was ordained, that, through him, they might deal with God; and therefore he had need to be tender. It was necessary that he should be one who could have sympathy with men;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Sixteenth Day for the Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Sabbath Schools
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Power of the Holy Spirit in our Sabbath Schools "Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."--ISA. xlix. 25. Every part of the work of God's Church is His work. He must do it. Prayer is the confession that He will, the surrender of ourselves into His hands to let Him, work in us and through us. Pray for the hundreds
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service,
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
OR, THE THRONE OF GRACE ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The churches of Christ are very much indebted to the Rev. Charles Doe, for the preservation and publishing of this treatise. It formed one of the ten excellent manuscripts left by Bunyan at his decease, prepared for the press. Having treated on the nature of prayer in his searching work on 'praying with the spirit and with the understanding also,' in which he proves from the sacred scriptures that prayer cannot be merely read or said, but must
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Water of Life;
OR, A DISCOURSE SHOWING THE RICHNESS AND GLORY OF THE GRACE AND SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL, AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE BY THIS TERM, THE WATER OF LIFE. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'--Revelation 22:17 London: Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Often, and in every age, the children of God have dared to doubt the sufficiency of divine grace; whether it was vast enough to reach their condition--to cleanse
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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