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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.
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.
4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I
have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the
works were finished from the
foundation of the world.
4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did rest the
seventh day from all his works.
4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
4:6 Seeing therefore it
remaineth that some must enter therein, and
they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
4:7 Again, he
limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after
so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have
spoken of another day.
4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from
his own works, as God did from his.
4:11 Let us
labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man
fall after the same example of unbelief.
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and
intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
but all things are
naked and
opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
have to do.
4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into
the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without
sin.
4:16 Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Hebrews
Book: Hebrews
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come short of
the promised
Rest, through unbelief.
(1-10) Arguments and
motives to
Faith and
Hope in our approaches to
God.
(11-16)
1-10 The privileges we have under the
Gospel, are greater than
any had under the
Law of
Moses, though the same
Gospel for
substance was preached under both Testaments. There have been in
all ages many unprofitable hearers; and unbelief is at the root
of all unfruitfulness under the
Word.
Faith in the hearer is the
Life of the
Word. But it is a painful consequence of partial
neglect, and of a loose and wavering profession, that they often
cause men to seem to come short. Let us then give diligence,
that we may have a clear entrance into the
Kingdom of God. As
God finished his work, and then rested from it,
So he will cause
those who believe, to finish their work, and then to enjoy their
Rest. It is evident, that there is a more spiritual and
excellent
Sabbath remaining for the people of
God, than that of
the seventh
Day, or that into which
Joshua led the Jews. This
Rest is, a
Rest of
Grace, and comfort, and
Holiness, in the
Gospel state. And a
Rest in
Glory, where the people of
God shall
enjoy the
End of their
Faith, and the object of all their
desires. The
Rest, or sabbatism, which is the subject of the
Apostle's reasoning, and as to which he concludes that it
remains to be enjoyed, is undoubtedly the heavenly
Rest, which
remains to the people of
God, and is opposed to a state of
labour and trouble in this world. It is the
Rest they shall
obtain when the
Lord Jesus shall appear from
Heaven. But those
who do not believe, shall never enter into this spiritual
Rest,
either of
Grace here or
Glory hereafter.
God has always declared
Man's
Rest to be in him, and his
Love to be the only real
happiness of the soul; and
Faith in his promises, through his
Son, to be the only way of entering that
Rest.
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 all that is in his
Heart. Let us
Hold
Fast the doctrines of
Christian Faith in our heads, its
enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it
in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives.
Christ executed
one part of his priesthood
On Earth, in dying for us; the other
he executes in
Heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the
offerings of his people. In the sight of Infinite
Wisdom, it was
needful that the
Saviour of men should be one who has the
fellow-feeling which
No being but a fellow-
Creature could
possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should have actual
experience of all the effects of
Sin that could be separated
from its actual guilt.
God sent his own Son in the likeness of
sinful
Flesh, Ro 8:3; but the more holy and pure he was, the
more he must have been unwilling in his nature to
Sin, and must
have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more
must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and
power. We should encourage ourselves
By the excellence of our
High
Priest, to come boldly to the
Throne of
Grace.
Mercy and
Grace are the things we want;
Mercy to
Pardon all our sins, and
Grace to purify our souls. Besides our daily dependence upon
God
for present supplies, there are
Seasons for which we should
provide in our prayers; times of
Temptation, either
By adversity
or prosperity, and especially our dying time. We are to come
with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat
of
Justice, but as kindly invited to the
Mercy-seat, where
Grace
reigns. We have boldness to enter into the holiest only
By the
Blood of
Jesus; he is our
Advocate, and has purchased all our
souls want or can desire.