Hebrews 4:1–13 (ESV)

¹Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ²For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. ³For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” ⁶Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” ⁸For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. ⁹So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ¹⁰for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

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¹¹Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹²For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The inspired writer to the Hebrews recognized that his readers were skeptical of being able to enter God’s rest. The promise seemed as far removed as it was for the disobedient Israelites entering the Land of Cannan (cf. Numbers chapters 13-14). He begins with the reassuring words, “The promise of entering [God’s] rest still stands” (4:1). This reassurance is important since we often wonder whether God is still gracious or if He is punishing us. Life is full of toil and labor. Our prayers seem to go unheard. Life seems to crumble around us. When we see our own sins and admit our own guilt, when we feel our own shame, it is easy to convince ourselves that God has gotten fed up with us too. It makes us wonder if there is any such thing as entering God’s rest.

However, the Epistle points out God’s promised rest still “remains for some to enter it” (6a). And verse seven reestablishes the promise saying: “again [God] appoints a certain day, ‘Today,’. . . Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” To put it another way is “Today, you live by God’s grace.” The words grace and rest go hand in hand. If God is gracious to me, then I can rest in His bosom. If I am resting in His bosom, then it stands that He is gracious to me.

Israel refused to trust God’s promise of grace. It seemed too far removed from their current struggles. They wrongly believed they knew what they needed better than God. Their desires, plans, and strivings were the gods they chose to follow unto their own false notion of rest which was to return to slavery in Egypt. From Israel’s disobedience we should learn what Paul calls, “the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26), which is the obedience that does not seek to win God’s favor through personal merit but simply to dwell in the rest He provides you through Jesus Christ who promises, “Come to me. . . and you will find rest for your souls” (cf. Matthew 11:28-29).

“Today” the Lord’s promise of divine rest is yours. It is yours as you dwell richly in the Word of Christ Jesus. Jesus is the One who has removed from you the dues of labor. Upon the cross He finished the work that was yours to bear. “Today” Jesus gladly calls you to rest by His Word and Sacraments. They will sustain you unto the eternal Sabbath rest. “For we who have believed enter that rest!” (4:3).

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