July 8, 2022
The Free Rest
Hebrews 4
Ethan Howard
Central Truth
True rest is found through a relationship with Jesus, trusting in the loving and free sacrifice He made for you.
Key Verse | Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For 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. 1 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers 3 For 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. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again 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.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God 2 4:8 Greek he would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For 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. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4 continues an argument to believers from chapter 3: do not neglect to enter the rest God offers us. In comparison, the author of Hebrews points back to the ancient Israelites who failed to enter God's rest through entry into the Promised Land.
The author exhorts us to enter the rest we have already been offered. It is necessary to understand this "rest" is not salvation. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers, and we know that salvation cannot be lost (Ephesians 1:13-14). This "rest" is more of a spiritual rest that we can experience now. Just as God would have delivered the Canaanites into the Israelites' hands (Numbers 14:8-9), so God has conquered death through Jesus' sacrifice. We can find rest in that promise.
If I'm not relying on God and abiding with Him, I revert to relying on my own strength or believing I need to earn God's love and approval. In these moments, I fail to enter God's rest. The last thing I should ever do is to rely on myself or try to earn God's love. Fortunately, God's love and the salvation He freely gives cannot be earned. If we could earn it, that would mean we could just as easily lose it (which I would've done by now).
Romans 5:8 constantly reminds me that, despite our overwhelming sin, God loved us, and Jesus died for us. In the times I try to rely on myself, Matthew 11:28-30 is a necessary reminder. Jesus tells those who are exhausted by this broken, sinful world to come to Him, and He will provide rest for our souls. We cannot find rest on our own, but Jesus can give it to us!
Eventually, believers will be able to enter the "Sabbath rest" (Hebrews 4:9), an eternal rest with God. In the meantime, we are offered this spiritual rest by reading and meditating on God's living, active Word (Hebrews 4:12) and drawing near to the throne of grace. Jesus is the great high priest who fully understands and has suffered the temptations we have (Hebrews 2:18). Draw near to Him!
Discussion Questions
1. In what areas in your life do you fail to enter God's rest?
2. Do you believe you need to earn God's love or the salvation He freely offers us (Ephesians 2:8-9)?
3. Have you experienced the power of God's Word mentioned in Hebrews 4:12? Explain.
4. What practices help you best draw near to or fall more in love with Jesus? List two or three and prioritize practicing them this week. Ask your community group for accountability.
5. Are there areas in your life where you're searching for rest or satisfaction other than in God? Is it working out?