Tyndale Open Study NotesHebrews 4

The author moves to the promise that the faithful will enter God's rest and urges listeners to take this promise seriously. Hearing alone is not enough. Listening must be combined with faith.

let us be careful: Fearing God means having a deep respect and awe for God and God's will. Missing out on God's promises would be a great tragedy.

• This good news is the message of salvation (Hebrews 2:3–4).

• They lacked the faith of those who listened to God. Some manuscripts say they didn’t combine what they heard with faith. In both cases, the listeners had weak faith and did not trust God's promise.

• People who believe the good news are the true heirs of God's rest, which is the salvation offered through Christ's sacrifice.

• God has said: The quote from Psalm 95:11 reminds us that the unbelieving rebels in the wilderness would never enter God's place of rest (compare Hebrews 11:8, 10, 14–16; 12:22–24).

• since the foundation of the world: God's rest means much more than just entering Canaan (see study note on 4:4).

This verse quotes Genesis 2:2 to show that God created rest when he rested after creation.

This quote from Psalm 95:11 repeats the idea found in Hebrews 4:3.

it remains for some to enter His rest: Building on the discussion in Hebrews 4:3–5, the author will argue that the promised rest is still open (4:7–10). Those who wandered in the wilderness heard the good news that the promised land was open to them. They were not able to enter because they disobeyed God (see Numbers 14:1–25; Deuteronomy 1:19–46; Psalm 106).

God again designated a certain day as “Today,”: David wrote Psalm 95 long after the events in the wilderness, so God's rest is not just for that earlier generation. The words from Psalm 95:7–8 urge us not to harden our hearts when we hear God's voice, so we can enter the rest that the people in the wilderness missed. This chance is available today (see Hebrews 3:13).

Joshua and Jesus share the same name (Greek Iēsous, Hebrew Yehoshua‘). In the Old Testament, it is usually translated as Joshua, and in the New Testament, as Jesus (see also study note on Exodus 17:9). The author is making a wordplay on their shared name. Joshua led God's people into the promised land (Joshua 3–4), but God meant more when he promised rest. Jesus provides God's ultimate rest (Hebrews 3:13–14; 4:3, 9–11, 14–16).

a Sabbath rest: The sacrifice of Jesus worked like a Day of Atonement sacrifice (Hebrews 5:1–3; 9:13–22; see Leviticus 23:26–28, 32). Through Christ's sacrifice, God's promised rest is available to his people.

• rests from his own work: See Exodus 20:8–11.

• just as God did: Genesis 2:2.

• make every effort to enter: If we do not actively obey God's voice and respond to the good news (Hebrews 4:1–2), we will face consequences like the wilderness wanderers did. We will fall.

• us … no one: Obedience is not just a personal issue. God's people have a shared responsibility to obey and should support each other in this effort (compare 3:13; 10:25; 12:15).

The author urges us to listen to God's voice, as mentioned in Hebrews 3:7, 15, and 4:7, quoting Psalm 95:7. They describe God's word as alive and powerful, meaning it is an active and effective force. The word that created and controls the universe (Hebrews 1:2–3) can also strongly influence people. It is like the sharpest two-edged sword, able to reach the deepest parts of people's lives and reveal their thoughts and desires (see Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15).

Uncovered and exposed means feeling vulnerable, helpless, or unprotected. The guilty cannot hide from God's powerful judgment (see Revelation 3:17).

These important verses finish the encouragement that began at Hebrews 3:1. They also introduce a long teaching about Jesus and his role as high priest (4:14–10:25).

• This verse sums up the message and challenge of Hebrews. Jesus, the Son of God, is our high priest and the reason to stay strong in the Christian faith.

• a great high priest: Israel’s high priest was the main leader in worship and the mediator between God and the people (see Exodus 31:10; Leviticus 4:3; 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Chronicles 26:20).

• who has passed through the heavens: Earthly high priests entered God’s presence in the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1–25). In contrast, Jesus, our high priest, has entered God’s presence in heaven and stays there (Hebrews 7:26; 9:11–12, 23–26).

• let us hold firmly: Stay committed to actively believing in and being loyal to Jesus (see also Colossians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 2:13, 25; 3:11).

• Our high priest understands our weaknesses and our tendency to sin because he faced the same challenges. He was tempted by lust, greed, unforgiveness, and dishonesty. This makes him compassionate as our high priest (Hebrews 5:2).

• yet was without sin: Jesus is different from earthly high priests, who had to make offerings for their own sins before they could make offerings for the people (5:3; 7:26–28; see also 1 Peter 2:22–23).

• The verb translated as let us then approach can also mean "let us continually come," indicating ongoing action.

• As our compassionate high priest, Jesus has made it possible for people to confidently enter God's presence (see Hebrews 6:19–20; 10:19–23). There, we can receive his mercy and grace when we need it most.