Heb. 3:1 ¶ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
“Wherefore” – In light of the fact that Christ Jesus is greater than the angels and is now our High Priest…..
I think it is important to note that the writer is addressing “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,” Jewish believers who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God as a guarantee of their eternal salvation. An excerpt from my journal in Ephesians follows.
Eph. 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The Greek for sealed states, “to stamp for security or preservation.” Again, the fact that I am sealed with the Holy Spirit guarantees the security of my salvation. God (or His Spirit) never fails in what He does. That seal is a pledge of more to come, a divine assurance of good. The Greek for earnest reinforces that truth; it is defined as something “given in advance as security for the rest.” What is He an advance on? The eternal inheritance that we will receive as children of God. [end excerpt]
The heavenly “calling” takes me back to my study in Romans. The Greek indicates that the word used here is a shortened form of the word used in Romans 8:30.
Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
The wording of verse 1 emphasizes the truth that the writer is directing his remarks to Jewish Christians—those who are part of the group that will eventually be glorified and share an eternal future in the presence of the Savior.
The writer next asks these believers to consider or make careful observation of Jesus Christ, the “Apostle and High Priest of our profession.” The Greek for Apostle makes reference to an ambassador of the Gospel that has miraculous powers. It goes on to reference one commissioned by Christ. In context here, however, the reference is to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as sent to represent God the Father. That He is our High Priest was established in the previous chapter.
“Of our profession” is a reference to the fact that these believers had acknowledged and made public confession of accepting that truth.
Spurgeon re “consider the Apostle….Christ”: “Think much of Him. Remember who it is you follow, with whom you are brethren. If you think little of your Leader you will live but poor lives. Consider him, often think of him, try to copy him. With such a Leader what manner of people ought we to be?”
Heb. 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
The writer now goes on to detail what they should “consider” regarding Jesus Christ. In that consideration, he begins with a comparison between Jesus and Moses, a prophet held in great esteem by the Jews.
First, He was faithful to the One who appointed Him as was Moses; both were “appointed” by God the Father. The reference to being “faithful” is a reference to how both were trustworthy in fulfilling their commission. Their faithfulness in serving God in obedience was evidenced through serving his “house”; the Greek states, “a family (more or less related).” A verse from Exodus adds insight.
Exodus 40:38 “For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”
Regarding Moses, it refers to his leadership of the house of Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness in preparation to entering the Promised Land. Regarding Jesus, it refers to His ministry and declaration of the gospel to the house of Israel and His willing sacrifice of Himself on the cross to redeem mankind in preparation for establishing His kingdom (spiritual Israel) in fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as His promise to David.
Heb. 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
Heb. 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
The writer is saying that Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses in the same way that a builder is more deserving of honor than the house he builds. My paraphrase of verse 4—It takes a man to build a house, but it takes God to make a man and everything he uses.
The writer goes on to elaborate in the following verses.
Heb. 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
Heb. 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Moses was a faithful servant of God to the house of Israel. His ministry established a witness that has application to future revelation. Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, ministered to the house of His own building, the true Israel as described by Paul in his letters to the Romans and Galatians.
Romans 4:11-12 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
Galatians 3:7-9 & 29 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham….And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
The writer is clear that “we” are part of that house “if we hold fast” to our profession. I like the comments made by Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies in Greek regarding this phrase.
“The ‘if’ in the Greek text is the particle ean, introducing a future, unfulfilled, hypothetical condition. The writer is proposing a condition as yet unfulfilled. If these Jews, to whom he is writing, hold fast their confidence and the rejoicing of the professed hope in Messiah firm to the end of their lives, that fact shows that they belong to the house of God, in other words, are saved. If they do not do so, but instead, renounce that profession and return to the abrogated system of Levitical sacrifices, that shows that they never were saved. It is not the retention of salvation that is in question here, but the possession of salvation.”
This statement is supported by the Apostle John in his first epistle.
1John 2:18-19 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
The term antichrist is simply a reference to one who is an opponent of Christ, which is the position of every unbeliever.
Matthew 12:25 & 30 “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand….He that is not with me is against me….”
Heb. 3:7 ¶ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb. 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb. 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb. 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb. 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
“Wherefore” – Since continuance in the faith gives evidence of salvation…
The writer inserts a large parenthetical message at this point.
“as the Holy Ghost saith” - This is another statement of the inspiration of the scripture; men wrote as the Holy Spirit supernaturally gave them the words to write. This section is a quote from Psalm 95:7-11. By using this quote, the writer is emphasizing the importance of having a tender heart and of listening with spiritual ears. It’s the same word for “if” in verse 7 as used in verse 6. In other words, their ability to understand the message is directly dependent on not hardening their hearts.
The writer is urging these Jewish Christians not to provoke God in the same way that their ancestors did by showing lack of faith in God to deliver on His promises in spite of the many evidences He had given to His power and authority. When they complained about the manna, God gave them quail. When they sent the spies into Canaan, they feared the giants instead of trusting the God who had taken them through the Red Sea to deliver them from the armies of Pharoah. When Korah led the rebellion against God’s appointment of Moses and Aaron, God had the earth open up and swallow them. They complained of thirst, and He gave them water from a rock. The people had every reason to have faith in God and absolutely no valid reason not to trust Him.
Israel’s continual lack of faith in spite of God’s continued proof of His desire and ability to provide for them according to His word grieved Him. The Greek for this word states, “to be vexed with something irksome.” I also thought the Greek for the word err was telling, “roam (from safety, truth, or virtue):—go astray….” When we refuse to put our faith in God, we are effectively putting ourselves in danger, falling for deceit and showing fear. Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land is full of examples of that very truth.
Their lack of faith made God so angry that all the adults (20 years and older) of that generation (excepting Caleb and Joshua) were not permitted to enter the Promised Land and experience God’s blessing.
Numbers 32:11 “Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me….”
Wiersbe (and so many other preachers I have heard): “The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart.”
Heb. 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Now we continue with the “wherefore” from verse 7—Since continuance in the faith gives evidence of salvation…
Take heed or beware that you don’t give evidence in your life of the same lack of faith evidenced by the Israelites who were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Lack of faith in God gives evidence of “an evil heart of unbelief”; in other words, it gives evidence of a false profession. In context, the writer is saying that you can’t embrace the sacrificial system of Judaism and at the same time claim faith in the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus fulfills all that is embodied in the ritual of the Jewish sacrificial system and has made it empty and of no effect. To embrace Judaism is to reject Jesus.
To “depart” indicates a choice made. The warning is against making a choice to reject Jesus as the Messiah and God’s gift of salvation that is only found through faith in Him. The wording is clear in its implication of their knowledge of the truth. The choice to depart would be one of willful rejection of that truth.
Heb. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
The Greek for deceitfulness referenced delusion. Webster made a very telling statement about delusion: “A delusion is a false judgment, usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it.”
These presumed Jewish believers were in danger of falling for the deceit of those who would have them believe that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ wasn’t sufficient, that they needed to continue in obedience to the law and reject the sufficiency of the gift of God’s salvation through grace. The writer knew that these enemies of God were passionate and persistent in their attempts to deceive this body of believers and exhorts them to encourage one another daily to stay strong in their faith. Isn’t it a shame that the enemies of God are often more passionate in promoting their false teaching than the body of Christ is about promoting the truth of God’s word.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of a couple of the proverbs.
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Ecclesiates 4:12 “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
As is often the case, good old Webster adds insight in his definition for sharpen: “To render more quick or acute in perception.” In other words, believers are to help each other in perceiving or discerning truth; our faith is strengthened through unity of spirit in choosing to obey God’s word.
Good comment from Guzik: “This shows our responsibility to both give exhortation and to receive exhortation….”
When one who knows the truth chooses to accept false teaching, he gives evidence of a hard or stubborn heart.
“while it is called To day” – This indicates to me that the writer was making reference to the uncertainty of life and/or was expecting the return of the LORD Jesus and knew that the door of opportunity for choosing Jesus as Savior would close. I found a good quote in JFB’s commentary: “To-morrow is Satan’s to-day; he cares not what good resolutions you form, if only you fix them for to-morrow.”
Heb. 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Again the writer makes clear that continuance in the faith gives evidence of sincere faith. As far as I’m concerned, people can argue the point til they are blue in the face; but it doesn’t change the facts. One who has truly been saved will not depart from the faith. He may have doubts from time to time as evidenced by John the Baptist, but he has no choice but to hang in there. I couldn’t help but think of Peter’s response to the LORD after a hard teaching that caused many of His followers to reject Him.
John 6:66-69 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Again, I think it is important to note that the true believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit for security (cf note at 3:1) and is held tightly in the hand of the Father.
John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Points to note:
The sheep know their Shepherd and follow Him. It doesn’t say “sometimes follow” or “follow for a little while.” Again, it is not saying that one will never sin or stray from time to time, but that sin will not be a continual choice. His choice is to follow the Shepherd in light of knowledge of His love and provision.
The sheep have been given eternal life and will never perish. This is not a conditional statement; it’s a black and white statement of truth.
They are firmly in the grasp of the hand of both Father and Son; no grasp is stronger.
Heb. 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Heb. 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb. 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb. 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb. 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
The writer again makes a comparison between choosing to follow God in faith and rejecting Him as LORD by using the example of the Israelites whom God miraculously delivered from Egypt in order to bring them into the Promised Land.
Point is made again that the people of Israel chose not to listen to or heed God’s word because of a stubborn heart. The writer is emphatic in stating that all those who died during the 40 years of wandering in the desert were guilty of provoking Him because of their unbelief, resulting in not being allowed to enter “His rest.” Why was it referenced as “His rest?” Because if they had chosen to follow Him in faith as they possessed the land, they would have been able to rest, to settle down and experience His blessings, provision and protection.
Heb. 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.
I think the NLT expresses the truth of this verse very clearly: “God’s promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there.”
The place of rest is a reference to dwelling in the kingdom of God, the place where Jesus rules in the lives of those with faith in Him. It’s a place of God’s blessing, provision and protection. The writer is again making reference to the fact that not all who profess to be a part of God’s kingdom actually are.
Clarke had an informative comment on the phrase “come short.”—“…it is an allusion, of which there are many in this epistle, to the races in the Grecian games: he that came short was he who was any distance, no matter how small, behind the winner.”
Heb. 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.
The word for gospel is a reference to “good news.” The gospel is eternal, as will be declared by the angel in the tribulation.
Revelation 14:6-7 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
The gospel message calls for us to fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him as is His due as our Creator. This can be confusing since the verse in Revelation does not specifically say, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) The truth is that if we fear God, we will bring Him glory and show Him that we adore Him by placing our faith in Him. The Israelites led by Moses were to give evidence of their faith by listening to and obeying His word as revealed through His chosen prophet, Moses. Since the coming of His Son Jesus, we are to give evidence of that faith by accepting Jesus as the Messiah/Savior that was spoken of by the prophets and affirmed by His Father through the miracles He performed and His resurrection from the dead after suffering the humiliation of the cross. The gospel message of good news for every person ever born is that God loves you very much and has provided for your salvation. It’s a free gift; all you have to do is accept that gift in faith.
The writer sadly notes that the wilderness generation did not get to experience the rest of living in and enjoying the blessings of the Promised Land because they refused to believe God. They heard the word, but they did not “mix” it with faith; they did not commingle or combine (from the Greek) it with faith evidenced by action.
Heb. 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.
The wording is difficult, but point is being made that God has made provision for people of faith to enjoy His rest since the very foundation of the world. I like the NLT translation: “For only we who believe can enter his place of rest. As for those who didn’t believe, God said, ‘In my anger I made a vow: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’’ even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world.”
God was not surprised by man’s choice to sin. Even as He spoke the creation into existence, He had already planned to provide the sacrifice of His Son to redeem man from sin, providing them entrance into His place of rest.
1 Peter 1:18–20 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world….”
The phrase “the works were finished” is a very telling one. God, who is outside time, considered His works “finished,” even though man, who lives in the dimension of time, would wait for thousands of years to watch this plan unfold. I can’t help but think of a wonderful verse in Isaiah.
Isaiah 14:24 “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand….”
“we which have believed…rest” – The writer is referencing the fact that those who have truly placed their faith in Jesus as Savior are already positioned to experience the benefits of living in God’s kingdom. Scripture clearly states that Jesus is our rest.
Matthew 11:28-29 [Jesus speaking] “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
How has the Lord provided for us to enjoy His rest? By giving us the Holy Spirit to empower, strengthen, comfort, guide us into truth and intercede for us in prayer.
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Ephesians 3:16 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man….”
Acts 9:31 “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
“as he said” – Where? Psalm 95.
Psalm 95:10-11 “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”
The wording is confusing in this verse in Hebrews, but the context is clear in reference to the wilderness generation that did not get to enter the Promised Land and affirmed by the verse in Psalms being quoted.
Heb. 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.
Again the writer quotes from scripture.
Genesis 2:2 “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
I think this verse is emphasizing the fact that in God’s mind the redemption for man was completed when He rested from His works on the seventh day. It just points out again the truth stated by the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God, positioned outside of time, could state that His work was completed at the end of six days because in just thinking out His plan, it was completed as far as He was concerned. In no way did this contradict the words of Jesus when He said He came to do the work of the Father.
John 5:17 & 36 “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work….But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
Jesus was positioned in time and speaking as the Son in flesh who was obedient to bringing God’s plan to completion in the dimension of time.
Heb. 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
For some reason, the writer is impressed to repeat again that those who do not place their faith in God’s provision for their salvation through His Son Jesus will not enter His rest, the place where He is LORD, His kingdom. Other translations are clearer, such as the ESV: “And again in this passage he said, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
In other words, there is the possibility that there are those who profess faith that they do not possess faith.
Heb. 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:
The ongoing comparison to entering the Promised Land and entering God’s rest continues. “They to whom it was first preached” is a reference to the wilderness generation of Israelites who were not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief. The blessed truth is that man still has the option of entering God’s “rest” (this time in reference to His kingdom) through faith.
The good news of the blessings associated with living by faith as evidenced by obedience to His word was first preached to the people of Israel whom He delivered from slavery in Egypt. The nation of Israel was established to give evidence of that very truth from their very inception through God’s promise to Abraham and confirmed by the miraculous birth of Isaac.
Heb. 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.
Heb. 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
“limiteth” = to mark out, appoint, decree, declare, determine
The point of these two verses is that the invitation to enter God’s rest didn’t end with the wilderness generation. Many years later He declared through the Psalmist (again referencing Psalm 95) that His rest was still available to those who would “hear” Him. In the Hebrew it is clear that hearing involves listening with the intent to obey. The writer has hammered home the truth more than once that the condition of one’s heart has a direct effect on his ability to hear with spiritual ears.
I agree with the other translations I checked that the reference to “Jesus” should read “Joshua” in context. (The names are the same in the original language.) It was Joshua who inherited the mantle of leadership from Moses and eventually led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. This implies that the Promised Land as representing God’s rest was not the final fulfillment of that place of rest God has planned for His people; it was but a temporary earthly type of the eternal spiritual and earthly kingdom to come.
I think it is interesting how often the writer has referenced “Today.” It’s a reference to “now,” the present. The writer is taking great pains to emphasize that God’s invitation to enter His rest is available now. This implies to me that it might not be available “tomorrow,” because we aren’t promised tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1 “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
Heb. 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb. 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
The writer clearly states in verse 9 that there is a rest still available to the “people of God.” The root word for rest in this verse is a reference to the Sabbath, and I think that is an important reference to understanding the basis of the rest of the Christian. This is clear as shown from the context of the next verse. We enter God’s rest when we cease from following a system of works, as represented by the law, and accept the gift of salvation available to us through Jesus, who has delivered us from the system of works through the gift of grace. Once we accept Jesus’ provision of grace in faith, we can rest in His finished work on the cross just as surely as God rested from His work on the seventh day after creation, the Sabbath. We are no longer under the bondage of obedience to the law.
It’s important to note that the rest God has prepared is for His people. Peter makes use of this same phrase.
1Peter 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Peter is clear in defining the people of God as those who show praise to God by how they live. This truth is emphasized by the context that follows.
1Peter 2:11-16 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”
Heb. 4:11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The wording of this verse seems to be contradictory. The writer recognizes that accepting God’s free gift of salvation in faith is not an easy thing for us to do. It involves humbling ourselves before God and repenting of our sin. It means that we have to admit that God has provided everything for us in the person of His Son Jesus and that we can do nothing whatsoever to add to what He has done. We have to accept that God’s way is the only way, that His provision is sufficient. We give evidence to the truth of our profession through obedience. I repeat—obedience gives proof to our possession of true faith. The Greek for “unbelief” specifically states “disobedience.”
To labour is a reference to being earnest and diligent. In this body of flesh, we will continue to be subject to the temptation of sin in the flesh and the attack of the enemy—and it takes earnest effort and diligence to obey God in faith. When we receive our glorified bodies, we will finally experience the fullness of the promised rest for the people of God. We will no longer struggle in our walk of obedience. We will have no sin nature to contend with nor will we ever have to confront the attack of the enemy again. That is a rest worth every bit of effort we put forth in resisting the flesh and the enemy and making choices that declare our faith in God through His Son.
Heb. 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.
I like the wording of the CJB for this verse: “See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.”
I like the wording of the NLT for the last phrase: “It exposes us for what we really are.”
I think of the soul as that part of me that identifies who I really am; it is my self consciousness. It is the part of me that is expressed through my character and relationship toward others. I think of the spirit as my spiritual life force. It is the part of me that relates to God—my God consciousness. When man chose to sin in rebellion against God, it was spiritual death that he first experienced. That spiritual death resulted in man also experiencing physical death. Had we not sinned, we would have lived forever in fellowship with our Creator.
The word of God is the scripture as revealed to men of faith through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and as revealed in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. You can’t really separate the word from the person.
The point of this verse is that God’s word gives us a true picture of who we are by how we measure up to its truth. When we read it with an open heart, God will convict us of our sin and give us the words of eternal life. When we read it with the heart of a servant, He will show us how to overcome temptation and be obedient. When we read it with the heart of a child, He will minister comfort to our soul and joy to our spirit. All this is done through the person of the Holy Spirit as He works to grow us in faith. When we look to Jesus, we have a living example of the truth and power of God’s word in the life of the person of faith. In Jesus, we have a hope for the future as evidenced by His resurrection.
In the light of God’s word, our thoughts and intents are revealed as to what we treasure or value and the motives for our actions.
The mirror of God’s word gives a true reflection of the person we are if we are willing to look. Our flaws and imperfections will be made very clear. But unlike earthly mirrors, the mirror of God’s word also shows us how to get rid of those flaws and imperfections by choosing to follow the example of Jesus, the Word made flesh, in faith and obedience to the Father.
I liked this comment from Guzik: “The preacher doesn’t make the Bible come alive. The Bible is alive, and gives life to the preacher and anyone else who receives it with faith.”
Heb. 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.
“creature” = original formation…creation, creature, ordinance.
“naked” = uncovered, not concealed, open to view
“opened” = exposed, bare
In other words, there is no part of God’s creation that is hidden from His oversight. He is aware of everything going on everywhere. In light of the previous verse, this took my mind to the parts of creation that are “hidden” from our natural vision, such as things that we are only privileged to observe with the aid of today’s technology. (cf notes at 1:3) I am again reminded of the verse in Colossians that declares the creation’s dependence upon the Creator.
Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
His vision and awareness are limitless. As He observes man, He sees him inside and out; in fact, He looks more at what’s in his soul than on his physical makeup.
1Samuel 16:7 “…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
“him with whom we have to do” – In looking at the Greek for “to do,” the following thoughts stood out: “something said…reasoning or motive…account, cause and communication.” It reminded me that we are a unique part of His creation, in that He has chosen to communicate with us by His word through scripture and through the embodiment of His word in His Son Jesus Christ. Through both, He is imparting to us a foundation upon which we are to reason and can judge our motives. It is necessary for us to have a foundation from which we can determine right thinking and actions. The word “account” is also included in the Greek, and many translations conclude that the reference is to the fact that we will one day be held to account by God. This truth is also supported by scripture, so I have no reason to argue. This is just another example of the many layers of meaning that can be contained in a given scripture. The key to remember is that these layers will complement one another and never contradict other scripture. They always serve to broaden our understanding.
One can’t help but be reminded of the words of the Psalmist in one of my favorite psalms.
Psalm 139:1-16 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
Heb. 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.
The writer has established Jesus as greater than the angels and greater than the prophet Moses, the most revered of Jewish prophets. He now introduces Jesus as our “great high priest.” This was another significant truth this group of Jewish “Christians” needed to grasp in rejection of the arguments being used to lure them back into Judaism. I think it is significant that the writer emphasizes that Jesus as High Priest is positioned in the heavens (the abode of God from the Greek) and not limited in His access to God (is implied I believe). This is in vivid contrast to the limitations under which the high priest in Jerusalem served. JFB made an interesting comparison between the heavens and the veil that served as the entrance to the Holy of Holies.
“These heavens were the veil which our High Priest passed through into the heaven of heavens, the immediate presence of God, just as the Levitical high priest passed through the veil into the Holy of Holies.”
It should be noted that we “have” a great high priest. The Greek refers to the fact that Jesus’ ministry as our great high priest is continuous; He lives to intercede with the Father on our behalf, as will be pointed out in chapter 7.
Hebrews 7:22–25 “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
I think it is very significant that the reference is to holding fast their “profession,” what they have publicly acknowledged to be what they believe. This is another indication to me that the writer was aware that it was possible that not everyone in this group that professed Jesus Christ as Savior actually possessed Him as Savior. What had they professed to believe—that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to provide their salvation as a gift through faith.
I almost forgot to draw attention to how the writer emphasizes the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. There is no earthly authority that supersedes His authority in the life of the child of God. Again, this is a statement of warning against listening to those who were trying to lure them back to a system of works.
Heb. 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.
At this point the writer reminds his audience that Jesus, our Great High Priest, empathizes with us in his humanity. He faced every type of temptation that man can face, yet He responded to each test “without sin.” He never had a response that “missed the mark” (from the Greek for the root word for sin) of God’s standard. John describes the types of temptation.
1John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
It’s important to note that the word for tempted is a reference to testing, being scrutinized or examined, or proven. Jesus boldly declared that His desire was to do the will of God the Father, His Father, and that He always spoke and acted in accordance with that will.
John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
John 12:50 “And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
John 14:31 “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.”
His profession was proven by how He held fast to what He professed. He never disobeyed the will of the Father, even to the point of death on the cross. His faith was proven to be genuine.
Jesus was born as a man in complete fellowship with His Father—just as Adam had been created. He did not inherit the sin nature of fallen man, but He did possess the same ability to make His own choices. Prior to his sin, Adam was privileged to live in a beautiful garden especially prepared for him to supply his every need. He was only forbidden one thing, and still he chose to disobey His Creator. Jesus did not live in such beautiful surroundings. He lived in a fallen creation and grew up in a town that was “on the wrong side of the tracks.”
John 1:46 “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
When He entered into ministry, He had no roof to call His own.
Matthew 8:20 “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
He experienced the betrayal of one who was one of His inner circle of twelve.
Matthew 26:48-49 “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?”
His family didn’t even believe Him at first.
John 7:3–5 “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.”
Though some chose to follow Jesus in faith, He was persecuted and despised by many—especially the religious leaders. He became so hated that they devised a plan to bring Him to trial using false accusation, basically forcing the hand of the Roman governor (who declared Him to be free of guilt) to sentence Him to death. In spite of the horrendous physical beatings He suffered, He went as a lamb to the slaughter. In horror of the thought of being separated from His Father, He expressed the desire to be released from the coming judgment if there were any other way. Still, He remained obedient to the Father’s will and even asked for the Father to forgive His enemies from the cross.
When confronted with the attack of the enemy during the wilderness testing at the beginning of His ministry at a time when He was most vulnerable physically, He proved Himself spiritually strong through His knowledge of God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit. He was content to wait on God’s provision for Him in God’s timing.
In other words, His life backed up His teaching, what He professed to believe, in every aspect in obedience and submission to God. He succeeded in every area of testing in which Adam had failed.
Heb. 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.
“therefore” – Based on the truth that Jesus is positioned as our great High Priest as One who understands our every trial and temptation….
The writer declares that we can approach the “throne of grace,” God’s throne, to seek His mercy and grace in “time of need,” our own times of testing. Our prayers to the Father are to be presented to Him “freely, with frankness, and with confident assurance” (from the Greek for boldly) as to His willingness to hear us. Why? Because we have become joint heirs with Jesus; we are His children, part of His family. What loving Father turns away His child in need? Before leaving this thought, I think it is important to note that we as individuals can approach God in prayer; we don’t need any other intercessor between us and the Father than Jesus Christ.
When I looked at the Greek for need, it was defined as “well-timed, opportune, convenient, in time of need.” I’ve always read that verse from my perspective, but this tends to point to provision from God’s perspective. It takes me back to what I said in the previous verse regarding Jesus’ willingness to wait for God’s provision for Him in God’s timing. I think that is what trips us up sometimes and causes us to doubt. We are looking for God’s answer in our timing and according to our will. God is the perfect Father and He will answer His children according to what He knows to be best instead of what we think to be best—and the two perspectives are often very different.
Scripture is very clear in stating that God wants to empower those who trust Him for victory over their enemies.
1Chronicles 29:11-12 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”
Psalm 17:7 “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.”
Psalm 31:19 “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
1Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
1John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
I am also reminded of Jesus’ response to the woman that touched the hem of His garment for healing.
Mark 5:34 “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole….”
And to the woman who washed His feet with her tears.
Luke 7:50 “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee….”
And to the blind man in Jericho who called out for mercy.
Luke 18:42 “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”
And to the two blind men who begged for mercy.
Matthew 9:29 “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”